Doctors are worried about Indiana's growing obesity

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind (WLFI) - Shocking new numbers have been released about the state's obesity. A new analysis by the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed Indiana is the eighth fattest state in the nation. It's also part of a group of 12 states that has an adult obesity over 30 percent.

"I think a lot of individuals walk around thinking it's not a big deal to be big," Dr. Keith March of Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health said.

The state's obesity rate rose 2 percent in just one year. Dr. March said he has noticed more overweight and obese patients at his office.

"Overweight individuals are with a body mass index of 25 to 30," Dr. March said. "Obese individuals are from 30 and above. We see some BMI's in our county at 50.

Dr. March said obesity can cause a range of other illnesses from hypertension to cancer. He said the way to get healthy is still the simple way; exercise and eating right.

"Just take a nice walk," Dr. March said. "If you can increase activity to a half an hour or 45 minutes of just simple exercise, watch your portion sizes, and eliminate certain things from your diet, like soda."

Obesity is also racking up quite a health care bill. According to the Center for Disease Control in 2008 $147 billion was spent on obese related health care, and insurance companies are taking notice.

"Each year [insurance companies] may have you do a health care assessment that involves cholesterol levels and weight," Dr. March said. "You'll get credit if you're in the healthy realm, but you'll pay more if you're not."