• Beverage Daily, Friday, July 3, 2009 10:12 AM

Obesity rates went up in 23 states and decreased in none over the last year, according to "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009." In 1980, the average U.S. obesity rate was 15%; now the average is 34.3%, and another 32.7% are overweight, Caroline Scott-Thomas reports. The report was issued by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report suggests that the federal government should "work with industry to eliminate junk food advertising to children" and that states should "evaluate current snack taxes," among other recommendations. More than 30% of children are overweight or obese. Rising prices for more nutritious foods makes it difficult for families to eat as healthfully as they may want to, the report also points out.

The Department of Health and Human Services has said that it aims to reduce obesity rates to 15% in every state before 2010. "Clearly, that goal will not be met as all states and D.C. currently exceed 15%," the report says.

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