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National Diabetes Awareness Month takes on a different significance in Appalachia, and WalletHub's "2026's Most Overweight and Obese States in America," gives some idea why.
Obesity is one of the bigger risk factors and primary cause of type 2 diabetes, and West Virginia is the most obese state in the country. Ohio is 15th.
Digging into the data gets more and more disturbing.
The Mountain State is first for the percentage of obese adults and the percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes. It is seventh for the percentage of overweight children, second for the percentage of obese children, sixth for the percentage of physically inactive adults, second for the percentage of adults with high cholesterol, eighth for the percentage of adults eating less than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day, fourth for the percentage of adults with hypertension and a frightening sixth for the obesity-related death rate.
Buckeye State residents aren't much better off. Ohio is 15th for the percentage of obese adults and 19th for the percentage of adults with type 2 diabetes. It is 18th for the percentage of overweight children, 20th for the percentage of obese children, 26th for the percentage of physically inactive adults, 26th for the percentage of adults with high cholesterol, 29th for the percentage of adults eating less than one serving of fruits or vegetables per day, 12th for the percentage of adults with hypertension, but doing better when it comes to the obesity-related death rate.
"While losing weight largely hinges on whether an individual chooses to eat healthy foods, limit their calorie intake and exercise consistently, certain states make shedding the pounds easier than others," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
Poverty, transportation challenges and living in a place without accessible, affordable fresh food options -- in other words, rural Appalachia -- add to the struggle. In fact, the worst five states in the study were West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama.
Government support for improved movement (the Mountaineer Mile, anyone?) or credits for stores willing to offer fresh food don't usually get much traction, as politicians spot another shiny object and forget about them.
But individuals and families do need elected officials to stay focused on ways to support their health. An enormous step forward would be work toward providing hope through an expanded and diversified range of good-paying jobs here.
Ignoring the problem won't make it go away. In fact, it's killing us.