Mass. Has Second-Lowest Adult Obesity Rate In Country, Study Finds

BOSTON — A new report finds that Massachusetts has the second-lowest rate of adult obesity nationwide.

The only state that scored better than Massachusetts was Colorado. The Bay State was a close second though, thanks in part to its high levels of physical activity.

But Liz Richardson of Trust for America’s Health, the nonprofit group that did the study, said Massachusetts shouldn’t celebrate too much. That’s because the same report shows that one in every five adults in the state is obese.

“Massachusetts should be happy that it’s leaner than many of its neighbors and that it scored relatively well compared to the vast majority of states,” Richardson said. “However, these obesity rates are still far too high.”

The report urges states to make sure schools serve nutritious foods, and to make sure urban neighborhoods have supermarkets and not just fast food restaurants. The study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.