New Report Finds 41 States Have Obesity Levels Over 20 Percent; State, Federal Obesity Policies Failing; Alabama Is Worst, Colorado Is Best, But No State Is Making The Grade.

Byline: Burness Communications

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (AScribe Newswire) -- Trust for America's Health (TFAH) today released a new report "F As in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America," which found that national and state policies are falling far short of obesity control and reduction goals.

Since states and the federal government have a crucial role to play in fighting the obesity epidemic, TFAH conducted a study of government action. TFAH concluded that America does not have the aggressive, coordinated national and state strategies needed to address the crisis, and that threatens to make the epidemic worse. Nearly 119 million American adults, 65 percent of the population, are currently overweight or obese. The direct and indirect costs of obesity in America are more than $117 billion per year.

"The added weight of the obesity epidemic to our already ailing health system is causing it to burst at the seams. Americans' growing waistlines are leading to escalating disease rates and costs," said Shelley A. Hearne, DrPH, Executive Director of TFAH. "While …