Minnesota boasts the lowest rate of childhood obesity in the nation, and North Dakota follows closely behind.
That's according to a chilling new report called "F As in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America," by the Washington, D.C.-based health care advocacy group Trust for America's Health. The report found that in 30 states, a good third of children ages 10 to 17 are overweight - a public health catastrophe and health care cost nightmare in the making.
And though Minnesota and North Dakota did better than most other states, area experts said the worrisome numbers are nothing to celebrate. About 23 percent of Minnesota's children are overweight, with almost 26 percent in North Dakota.
"I don't think we should be patting ourselves on the back at all," said Rory Beil, director of the new Cass Clay Healthy People Initiative. "One in four children who are overweight is no accomplishment."
According to the report, Mississippi had the highest rate of childhood obesity, at more than 44 percent. It was one of eight Southern states among the 10 with the highest rates. Minnesota and Utah tied for the lowest rate, and North Dakota came in fifth.
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Rates have more than tripled since 1980.
"The childhood obesity epidemic is putting today's kids on course to potentially be the first generation to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents," said Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health.
The annual report also tracks rates of clinically obese adults. Colorado was the only state that had a rate below 20 percent. As recently as 1991, not a single state's rate topped 20 percent. North Dakota and Minnesota both ranked in the middle of the pack.
Chris Tiongson, a MeritCare pediatrician, listed several possible reasons why the two states might have lower childhood obesity rates. Those include safer neighborhoods where kids can play outside compared to states with larger urban areas; fewer minority residents, who tend to have higher obesity rates; and lower poverty rates.
But, said Kim Lipetzky, a nutritionist at Fargo Cass Public Health, about the prevalence of obesity, "It's still a lot more than we would like even though we're doing well compared to the rest of the country."
Since last year, MeritCare doctors aim to bring up four numbers at each visit: five fruit and veggie servings, two hours of recreational screen time at most, one hour of physical activity and zero servings of sugary drinks.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mila Koumpilova at (701) 241-5529
