Newly released 2019 data from the CDC shows that Kansas is among 12 states with 35% or more adults being obese. Kansas was not one of the nine states cited with this percentage in 2018. Obesity places people at a much higher risk of complications from COVID-19 and other chronic health health conditions including diabetes. The study looks at ethnicity and race related to obesity as well.

While reducing this extremely high percentage of obesity in adults will take time, simple fixes like more physical activity, getting enough sleep, reducing stress and eating a healthy diet can be implemented immediately. Only one state - Colorado - had a percentage of obesity in adult residents between 20-25%, it was 23%.