Children's health -Where does your state rank in childhood obesity?

We have heard and will continue to hear concerning news about childhood obesity.  Do you know where your state ranks?I share this with you because kids need our help. They need our guidance and modeling for healthier living. Most of these overweight children will carry that added weight into adulthood.I left these in alphabetical order so you could find your state easily. Here are the childhood obesity rates by state for kids 10 to 17 years old. If we look at Alabama, 16.7% of all children are overweight or obese. (Remember that when we were children the rate was 5% or less) This is based on 2004 data:

Alabama 16.70%  Alaska  11.10%

Arizona  12.20% Arkansas  16.40%

California 13.20% Colorado 9.90%

Connecticut 12.30% Delaware 14.80%

District of Columbia 22.80%  Florida 14.40% Georgia 16.40% Hawaii 13.30%

Idaho 10.10% Illinois  15.80%

Indiana 15.60% Iowa 12.50%

Kansas  14.00%  Kentucky 20.60%

Louisiana 17.20% Maine  12.70%

• Maryland 13.30%  Massachusetts 13.60%

Michigan  14.50%  Minnesota  10.10%

Mississippi  17.80% Missouri  15.60%

Montana 11.10%  Nebraska  11.90%

Nevada  12.40%  New Hampshire  12.90%

New Jersey 13.70% New Mexico  16.80%

New York  15.30%   North Carolina   19.30%

North Dakota  12.10%  Ohio 14.20%

Oklahoma  15.40% Oregon 14.10%

Pennsylvania  13.30% Rhode Island  11.90%

South Carolina 18.90%  South Dakota  12.10%

Tennessee  20.00% Texas  19.10%

• Utah 8.50% Vermont  11.30%

Virginia 13.80% Washington 10.80%

West Virginia 20.90% Wisconsin 13.50%

Wyoming  8.70% Resources:  BMI Calculator Tool- Check your child's Body Mass Index (BMI) Family Nutrition Tools and Tips - Free Interactive nutrition Tools Online nutrition games for kids- Nourish Interactive's nutrition games.