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Mississippi has kept its U.S. heavyweight title for a fifth straight year, among both adults and children.

The percentage of adults classified as obese went up in 23 states, but Mississippi, with 32.5 percent, stayed atop the latest annual rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health. The same survey put the state’s adult obesity rate at 31.7 percent in 2008.

In addition, 44.4 percent of Mississippi children ages 10 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese, the study found.

Doctors have linked obesity to increased risks of a variety of conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and heart disease. Wednesday’s study found the current U.S. economic slump could worsen the problem by putting more nutritious food out of the reach of struggling families.

Mississippi Tops US Obesity Rankings via CNN.com