Obesity rates keep rising in U.S

 　　LOS ANGELES, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Obesity¹ prevalence was 30 percent or higher in 12 states of the United States last year, compared to nine states in 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday.

　　In 2000, no states in the country had obesity rates that high, and now obesity is a problem in all 50 states, the agency said in a report based on telephone interviews with 400,000 people.

　　Obesity rates vary by region, led by the South at 29.4 percent, followed by the Midwest at 28.7 percent, the Northeast at 24.9 percent, and the West at 24.1 percent, the report said.

　　Mississippi had the nation's highest obesity prevalence at 34 percent, and Colorado the lowest at 21 percent, according to the report.

　　Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia all had obesity rates of 30 percent or higher in 2010, said the report.

　　No state met the federal Healthy People 2010 goal of a 15 percent obesity rate. In fact, no state had a rate lower than 20 percent, the CDC said.

　　Obesity rates have kept rising despite a steady drumbeat of warnings that obesity causes serious health problems and increases the risk of premature² death, CDC officials said.

　　An adult is considered obese³ if he or she has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

1 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。