A new report indicates the percentage of Iowans who were overweight or obese was almost identical in 2013 and 2014, however two-thirds of Iowans still fit into that category. Don Shepherd of the Iowa Department of Public Health says it’s too early to tell if this is the beginning of a decline in obesity rates in Iowa….
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The data on obesity rates comes from the 2014 “Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System” report. The just-released report found the vast majority of Iowans consider themselves in good health.
Nearly five percent of Iowans surveyed last year admitted to driving while they were intoxicated. Only one other state had a higher rate of ADMITTED drunk driving and Shepherd says there are likely more who’ve driven while intoxicated, but wouldn’t admit it. About one in five Iowans surveyed in 2014 admitted to binge drinking. That puts Iowa among the top five states for binge drinking — and it’s not just a problem in college towns. Shepherd says it’s a “widespread” problem….
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Health professionals define binge drinkers as a man who drinks more than five alcoholic beverages or a woman who has more than four drinks on one occasion.