About 26 percent of Virginia adults are obese, according to federal survey data.
A new national analysis released Tuesday suggests that obesity rates in adults and children didn't change between 2007-08 and 2009-10.
"We are seeing that people … are really more aware of obesity and the health consequences associated with it," said Heidi Hertz, a registered dietitian and childhood obesity prevention coordinator at the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.
"We haven't turned the corner yet," Hertz said. "When we see a decline, we will know we have turned the corner."
A 2011 report comparing obesity among states ranked Virginia as the 30th most obese state in the United States.
Virginia's obesity rate among adults has risen steadily over the past decade.
In 2009, there were an estimated 1.5 million obese adults in Virginia, said Myra Shook, health promotion program manager at the Virginia Department of Health.
Having about 1 in 3 adults obese is too high, Shook said.
"For us what we look at are issues in our chronic diseases, for example, prediabetes," Shook said.
"So many of the nation's adults and children have the risk factors of obesity and no physical activity."
Tammie Smith
Fighting obesity
What: Virginia Healthy Youth Day
When: 10-11 a.m. Thursday
Where: Virginia State Capitol Bell Tower
Info: www.healthyyouthva.org
Details: 400 schoolchildren join Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell for a celebration of physical fitness and healthy living. Organized by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.
Obesity in Virginia
Year, adult obesity rate
1995 15.7 percent
1996 15.9 percent
1997 16.4 percent
1998 18.7 percent
1999 19.3 percent
2000 18.2 percent
2001 20.9 percent
2002 23.8 percent
2003 21.7 percent
2004 23.1 percent
2005 25.1 percent
2006 25.1 percent
2007 25.3 percent
2008 25.8 percent
2009 25.5 percent
2010 26.4 percent
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
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