Fit or Fat; Sweat 2011

August 31, 2011
by Alexa Schirtzinger
Santa Fe Reporter

On July 7, the Trust for America’s Health—a nonprofit dedicated to improving community health around the country—released a report titled “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011.” The findings are disappointing, if not particularly shocking: Across the nation, obesity rates continue to balloon out of control. New Mexico is among seven states in which obesity rates have doubled since 1995. Today, more than one-quarter of New Mexico residents are obese. 

According to the World Health Organization, obesity is defined as a body mass index—roughly equivalent to the percentage of body fat—of 30 or higher. But when combined with “overweight” (BMI between 25 and 30), a whopping 60.8 percent of New Mexicans are at unhealthy weights.

 

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