US States That Consume More Produce Weigh Less

The Trust for America’s Heath and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently ranked Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia as the heaviest states in America. More than one third of Mississippi’s population is obese, followed by 33.4 percent of Louisiana, and 32.4 percent of West Virgina. The three states were also listed among the lowest produce-consuming states (joined by Oklahoma), while California, Washington, DC, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Oregon were recognized as the largest produce-consuming states with much lower rates of obesity. The states with the lowest obesity standings, Colorado, Utah, and California, were also touted as the states with more physically active citizens. The Journal of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that long-term weight loss was achieved through decreased consumption of animal products.