Wisconsin has shed a dubious distinction from a couple of decades ago when it comes to weight, although the state did not reach it by actually shedding any pounds.
Two decades ago, Wisconsin was the heavyweight champion when it was ranked the most obese state in the country. Doctor Pat Remington of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health says the Badger State has dropped since then to about 20th in the nation. However, he says that’s largely because the populations of other states just started gaining weight at a faster rate.
AUDIO: Dr. Pat Remington (:21)
Remington says the average weight in Wisconsin has continued to climb in the past 20 years, but now southern and southeastern states have a largely share of the population that’s considered obese. He says it’s an epidemic that affects the young and old, as well as people of all races and income levels. And, he says it just keeps getting worse.
John Colbert, WIBA