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Minnesota has been able to keep obesity rates in the state steady compared to neighboring states, according to a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health. 


The report, released this week, highlighted that Minnesota has kept its obesity rate below 26 percent since 2010, while states like Iowa and North Dakota have seen rates climb above 30 percent, according to a health department analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveys 400,000 Minnesotans a year.  


The agency estimates that the lower obesity rates saved the state about $265 million in medical costs as of 2013 and healthier weights for 18,600 Minnesotans on state-funded health plans could save taxpayers about $9 million annually. 


Minnesota Commissioner of Health Ed Ehlinger argued the state's success in keeping obesity rates from growing is tied to investments provided by the Statewide Health Improvement Program, which the state House of Representatives has proposed cutting the program in the 2016-2017 budget. 


"The thing that separates Minnesota from the states that are bordering us is we have the Statewide Health Improvement Program," Ehlingher said. "We've been looking at local policies and state policies that will get people to move, get people to eat better, and to people to stop smoking or not start smoking." 


The program was created in 2008 and provides grants to cities, counties and tribes for projects like farmers markets, recreational trails and smoking prevention programs, among others. The health department says projects funded by the program in the most recent rounds of funding have included 3,100 partnerships with community groups, farmers and schools. 


Funding for the program has fluctuated. It fell from $47 million in funding during the program's first two years to just $15 million before bouncing back to the current funding rates of $35 million for the current two-year cycle.

Health

Jon Collins

Author

The report highlighted that Minnesota has kept its obesity rate below 26 percent since 2010, while states like Iowa and North Dakota have seen rates climb above 30 percent.

Minnesota keeps obesity rates lower than neighboring states

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