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July 1, 2009 -- It's official, again. For the fifth year in a row, Mississippi is still the nation's heaviest state -- ground zero for obesity in the U.S.

The report shows that 32.5% of Mississippi adults are obese and 44.4% of kids 10-17 are overweight or obese.

Here are eight steps two Mississippi mayors and a Mississippi endocrinologist say it will take for Mississippi to put the brakes on obesity.

1. Address the environment.

2. Spring for sidewalks.

3. Spruce up parks.

4. Reframe obesity.
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5. Step away from the fryer.

6. Launch a public health blitz.

7. Make healthy food available and affordable.
clipped from: www.webmd.com   
8. Walk the walk.

State Adult Obesity Rankings

  • Mississippi: 32.5%
  • Alabama: 31.2%
  • West Virginia: 31.1%
  • Tennessee: 30.2%
  • South Carolina: 29.7%
  • Oklahoma: 29.5%
  • Kentucky: 29.0%
  • Louisiana: 28.9%
  • Michigan: 28.8%
  • Arkansas and Ohio: 28.6%
  • North Carolina: 28.3%
  • Missouri: 28.1%
  • Georgia and Texas: 27.9%
  • Indiana: 27.4%
  • Delaware: 27.3%
  • Alaska and Kansas: 27.2%
  • Nebraska and South Dakota: 26.9%