South Carolina Health Statistics

South Carolina ranks 5th in the nation for highest adult obesity rates .

The rates of obesity and overweight in South Carolina are among the highest in the nation.

The average rate of being overweight and/or obese in South Carolina was over 65% between 2005 and 2007.

Prevalence of obesity related chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes is disproportionately high in South Carolina.

South Carolina has the second highest rate of stroke deaths in the nation.

Obesity-attributable medical expenditures in South Carolina topped one billion dollars in 2003.

1 out of 4 African Americans in South Carolina is totally inactive.

Less than 1/4 of all South Carolinians eats the recommended number of fruits and vegetables per day.

Almost 50% of children and adolescents who are obese will become obese adults.

Overweight children have doubled since 1970 and overweight adolescents have tripled in the same period.

An obese child's quality of life is similar to the life of a child diagnosed with cancer, which has been determined as the lowest quality of life score.

Physical inactivity costs our state an estimated $4,653,065,914 in medical care, workers comp and lost productivity each year – averaging about $1,466 per person.