It's the kind of study you want to rank last in... A new report finds Minnesota kids have the lowest rate of obesity -- tying with Utah at just over 23 percent.
"It's wonderful to see Minnesota tied for the lowest spot. I think that's great news for us, but I don't think that that means we don't have work to do still," said Dr. Jamie Stang with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
Stang says several factors contribute to low obesity rates among Minnesota children, including: higher education levels, ethnic background and socio-economic standards.
But, she says, one factor is more influential than the rest: put simply, Minnesota kids are active.
"We have a sort of perfect set-up here, we have a lot of trails, we have lakes for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Kids here tend not to let the weather get them down," Stang said.
Still -- what Minnesota kids are doing right, adults, apparently, are not. Minnesota ranked 31st for adult obesity rates -- at just over 25 percent. Stang believes adults could take cues from the kids around them -- depending on common activities and not just a trip to the healthclub.
"I think if adults were more likely to be just generally active like kids are, they would probably have less weight gain," she said, adding that people should consider mowing the lawn, or shoveling the sidewalk themselves -- and not hiring a service.
Click here for more information on the study, including how other states ranked.
