Study: Obesity rate increases in Wisconsin

MADISON — The University of Wisconsin says the state's obesity level is 10 percentage points higher than past estimates.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that researchers with the university's School of Medicine and Public Health put the state's obesity level at more than 30 percent.

The report from the university's Obesity Prevention Initiative uses measurements taken during doctor visits, instead of relying on self-reported data like previous studies. About 1.8 million patient measurements were examined.

The study found that more than 40 percent of adults were obese from 2015 to 2016, while almost 15 percent of children were obese.

Researchers created the Wisconsin Health Atlas map to present data in a searchable online form. The report found that rural areas had higher rates of obesity than urban areas.