New data fringe tag University of Wisconsin says the state’s obesity rate is 10 percentage points higher than past estimates. The research, from the School of Medicine and Public Health’s Obesity Prevention Initiative, uses measurements taken from actual doctor visits, instead of relying on self-reported data, as in the previous studies. The new research puts the state’s obesity rate at 30 percent, including 40 percent of adults, and almost 15 percent of children. The report also found that rural areas had higher obesity rates than urban areas.