Georgia among America's 'fattest' states of the year

File photo of heavyset man

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File photo of heavyset man

On a scale of the nation's "fattest" states, Georgia ranked No. 16, according to WalletHub's latest ranking on "America's fattest states" in 2016.

Analysts at the personal finance website came up with its list by pulling data from the U.S. Census BureauCenters for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

They compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key metrics: 1) obesity and overweight prevalence, 2) unhealthy habits and consequences and 3) food and fitness.

The "fattest" state in America? Mississippi.

For the study, analysts evaluated obesity and overweight prevalence by examining percentage of overweight and obese children, teenagers and adults.

Analysts evaluated unhealthy habits and consequences by comparing metrics like consumption of sugary beverages, percentage of residents with high cholesterol, diabetes and more.

And to determine each state's food and fitness ranking, analysts examined the accessibility of healthy food options, fast food restaurants per capita and fitness centers per capita.

Nationally, WalletHub found that more than three quarters of American adults today are either overweight or obese. And for the first time in history, there are more obese people than overweight.

Of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Georgia ranked in the top five for percentage of overweight children.

  1. Mississippi
  2. Louisiana
  3. Arkansas
  4. Kentucky
  5. Tennessee
  6. West Virginia
  7. South Carolina
  8. Alabama
  9. Texas
  10. Oklahoma
  11. Delaware
  12. Indiana
  13. Arizona
  14. North Dakota
  15. New Mexico
  16. Georgia
  17. Michigan
  18. Ohio
  19. Kansas
  20. Missouri

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