RAND State Statistics added a new database on November 26, 2021. The Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity database reports youth (grades 9-12) nutrition, obesity, and physical activity by age, education, gender, income, race, and ethnicity. As indicated, data are reported every other year. This database provides state-level youth data on adolescent diets, physical activity, and weight status from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).

 

In 2019, 15.5% of U.S. youth (grades 9-12) were obese (See Table 1). The territories and states with the highest percentage of obese youth in 2019 were Guam (23.8%), Mississippi (23.4%), West Virginia (22.9%), Arkansas (22.1%), and Tennessee (20.9%); the states with the lowest percentage of obese youth were Utah (9.8%), Colorado (10.3%), Montana (11.5%), New Jersey (11.9%), and Idaho (12.1%) (See Figure 1).

 

Table 1 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grade 9-12 who have obesity, 2019

 

Figure 1 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grade 9-12 who have obesity, 2019

 

From 2017 to 2019, the U.S experienced a 4.7% increase of obese students in grades 9-12, growing from 14.8% to 15.5% (See Table 2). States with the highest increase of obese students from this time period were Puerto Rice (28.6%), Florida (28.4%), Massachusetts (21.4%), West Virginia (17.4%), and Virginia (16.5%). The states with the lowest growth of obese students were Nevada (-12.1%), Texas (-9.1%), Kentucky (-8.9%), Nebraska (-8.9%), and Michigan (-8.4%) (See Figure 2).

 

Table 2 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grade 9-12 who have obesity, 2017-2019

 

Figure 2 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grade 9-12 who have obesity, 2017-2019

 

In 2019, 40.7% of students in grades 9-12 consumed vegetables less than one time daily in the U.S (See Table 3). States and territories with the highest rate of youth who consumed vegetables less than once a day in 2019 were Puerto Rico (64.3%), Mississippi (57.0%), Louisiana (55.1%), Alabama (52.8%), and Kentucky (51.8%). States with the smallest number of youth who consumed vegetables less than once a day were Vermont (27.9%), Colorado (33.4%), Utah (35.6%), Kansas (36.3%), and Idaho (37.4%) (See Figure 3).

 

Table 3 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grades 9-12 who consume vegetables less than 1 time daily, 2019

 

Figure 3 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grades 9-12 who consume vegetables less than 1 time daily, 2019

 

From 2017 to 2019, the U.S had a 0.2% growth of youth who consumed vegetables less than once a day (See Table 4). States with the most significant increase of youth who consumed vegetables less than once daily were Oklahoma (11.3%), North Carolina (11.0%), Texas (10.5%), North Dakota (9.7%), and Tennessee (9.3%). States with the least growth of students who consumed vegetables less than once a day were Alaska (-9.6%), Missouri (-8.7%), Kansas (-7.4%), Utah (-3.8%), and Rhode Island (-3.3%) (See Figure 4).

 

Table 4 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grades 9-12 who consume vegetables less than 1 time daily, 2017-2019

 

Figure 4 — Youth (Grades 9-12) Nutrition, Obesity, & Physical Activity: Students in grades 9-12 who consume vegetables less than 1 time daily, 2017-2019

 

Category: Health & Health Care