CDC’S 2014 State Maps Detailing the
Prevalence of Adults with Obesity
Today, the CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and
Obesity released its 2014 state- and territory-specific data on the percentage
of adults with obesity using self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
New adult obesity prevalence maps are available online at www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. This new
data shows that the proportion of adults in the United States with obesity
remained high in 2014, with estimates across states/territories ranging from
21.3% in Colorado to 35.9% in Arkansas.
In addition, for the second year, maps of adult obesity by
race/ethnicity have been released by CDC in which 2012-2014 data is combined.
These maps highlight disparities in the epidemic. Combining data from 2012 to
2014:- Non-Hispanic
blacks had the highest prevalence of self-reported obesity (38.1 percent),
followed by Hispanics (31.3 percent), and non-Hispanic whites (27.1
percent).
- In 33 states, at least 35% of the Non-Hispanic black adult population has obesity in contrast to only one state with at least 35% of the Non-Hispanic white adult population with obesity.
BRFSS is the nation's state-based data
tracking system that collects self-reported information (through telephone
surveys) from U.S. residents about their health-related behaviors, chronic
health conditions, and use of preventive services. BRFSS collects data in
all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and select U.S. territories.
BRFSS is only one of several data sets that allows obesity in the
United States to be monitored. Data from the BRFSS, as well as from other data
sets, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
in which weight and height are measured, indicate that obesity continues to be
a major public health problem.
There are several ways organizations can create a supportive
environment to promote healthy living behaviors that prevent obesity: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/index.html
More CDC Resources:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) provides a reliable
indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight
categories, such as obesity, that may lead to health problems like heart
disease and diabetes. CDC’s adult BMI calculator is now available in
both English and Spanish and can be accessed here.
- Defining Overweight and Obesity
- What Causes Overweight and Obesity?
- Strategies to Help Prevent Obesity
- Fact Sheet: Health Disparities in Obesity
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