Arizonans: 9th-worst eaters in U.S.

Arizona ranks No. 9 on the list of states with the deadliest eating habits, according to an analysis by the website 24/7 Wall Street.

The analysis looked at a number of factors that cause unhealthy diets and resulting obesity. These include income, access to healthy food sources, the ability to pay for healthy food, the concentration of fast food outlets, and the consumption of fruits, vegetables, sugar, fat and soft drinks.

It’s no surprise, perhaps, that much-maligned Mississippi topped the list – is there any “negative” list that state doesn’t top? – but Arizona easily made the top 10:

9. Arizona

Grocery Stores Per 1,000 Residents: 0.17 (47th)
Amount Spent on Fast Food Per Capita: $761 (4th most)
Gallons of Soft Drinks Purchased Per Capita: 60 (21st least)
Pounds of Sweet Snacks Purchased Per Capita: 109 (11th least)

Arizona has the second-fewest grocery stores per person, with only 0.17 for every 1,000 people. This illustrates a major restriction on healthy food access for one of the country’s fastest growing states. One of the ways in which residents of Arizona are supplementing their diets is with fast food. Arizonans spent an average of $760.50 each on fast food in 2007, the fourth-greatest amount among the states.

10 states with the deadliest eating habits [24/7 Wall Street]