Rhode Island

Report: Rhode Island Obesity Rates on the Rise

Rhode Islanders are getting fatter.

The Providence Journal reports that an annual study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that the adult obesity rate in Rhode Island increased by more than 3 percentage points from 2016 to 2017. According to the report, Rhode Island's adult obesity rate was 30 percent in 2017, up from 26.6 percent in 2016.

The state's ranking during that time has gone from the 10th lowest in the nation to the 29th highest.

Rhode Island was one of six states that saw a significant increase in the adult obesity rate from 2016 to 2017.

The report also found that Rhode Island has the fifth-highest obesity rate for children ages 10 to 17.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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