Obesity in the State of Mississippi
Disease Condition/Background
Today, obesity is a major public health to people of all ages in the State of Mississippi. For example, according to one authority, Obesity has become the most important threat to the health of Mississippians and if left unchecked will overwhelm our health-care system (Obesity in Mississippi, 2024, para. 2). The World Health Organization defines as obesity as as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health [diagnosed as] a body mass index (BMI) over 30 (Obesity, 2024, para. 2). Beyond this BMI elevated level, some of the more common signs of obesity include waist circumference and body fat percentage (Obesity Overview, 2024). Although every case is unique, some of the more common symptoms of obesity include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea and certain cancers (Obesity Overview, 2024, para. 5).
Unfortunately, both the incidence and prevalence of obesity in Mississippi are among the nations highest, with fully 37.3% of the adult population already children being classified as overweight or obese (Obesity in Mississippi, 2024). As shown in Figure 1 below, a number of risk factors exacerbate the obesity crisis in Mississippi today.
Figure 1. Mississippi and U.S. Adult...
…The action plan is depicted graphically in Figure 2 below.
Source: Grant et al., 2018, p. 14
This three-part, evidence-based initiative has the potential to directly reduce the incidence and prevalence of obesity in Mississippi within the foreseeable future, providing that the envisioned partnerships and collaborative efforts result in a sustained focus going forward.
Therefore, it is recommended that public education initiatives concerning the dangers of obesity are made a state-wide priority by lawmakers with appropriate funding levels to generate the publicity that is needed to raise public awareness and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the citizens of Mississippi today and in the future.
References
Goodman, M., Thomson, J., & Landry, A. (2020). Food Environment in the Lower Mississippi…
