Why do Nevadans drink more soda than almost anyone else?

In a ranking of the states drinking the most soda, Nevada comes in third, just behind Tennessee and Mississippi.

The Center for Disease Control released the findings as part of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, as part of the “Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adults — 18 States, 2012.” Sugary drinks, such as soda, are one of the primary sources for added sugar consumption in the United States, which can lead to negative health outcomes, the CDC says.

Nevada came in third in the nation, with 36.3 percent of residents consuming a soda or fruit beverage over the course of one year.

The report, according to USA Today, attributes the higher rates of poor diets in some states to socioeconomic factors. It says certain levels of educational attainment lead to higher health literacy.

In Nevada, less than 23 percent of adults had at least a bachelor’s degree — 7 percent lower than the national average. In the report, it states Nevada has an obesity rate of 26.2 percent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state has a median household income of $51,230.

While Nevada’s soda choices increase the likelihood of negative health outcomes, the state’s obesity rate is lower than the national average of 34.9 percent. The state’s median income is about average, with a national amount in 2013 of $51,939.

The state drinking the most soda is Mississippi, where the CDC reports a 35.1 percent obesity rate and a median household income of $37,963.

The report also found residents in the top five states were less likely to eat vegetables compared to their peers nationwide, and noted that poorer diets were in areas with limited access to certain health foods or healthy options.

In Las Vegas, many of the health-centric food stores are located in the southwest valley and in Henderson, with very few in North Las Vegas.

Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva