Community Data
Obesity
Quick Facts – Adults:
Overweight status (BMI ≥ 25 but ≤ 30) in adults 18 years and older (2020):
- Texas: 34.4%
Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in adults 18 years and older (2017-2018):
- US: 42.5%
- Texas: 35.7%
- Taylor County: 31.0%
Quick Facts – Children:
Texas is ranked 8th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the highest obesity rate for youth ages 10-17.
- 17.3% of Texas youth ages 10-17 have obesity.
Percent Obesity in adults 18+ (2017-2018)
TX Youth Obesity: 17.3%
Adult BMI:
Body mass index (BMI) is a screening tool used to measure a person’s weight category. When used by a healthcare provider and with other assessment methods, BMI can be useful in determining a person’s health status. A person’s height and weight are used to calculate their BMI, which is then classified into 1 of 4 categories: underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Obesity puts you at a higher risk for many diseases and health conditions, including: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease, arthritis, and some cancers.
Adult BMI Categories:
- Less than 18.5: Underweight
- 18.5 – 24.9: Healthy weight
- 25.0 – 29.9: Overweight
- 30.0 and above: Obese
Child & Teen BMI
Body mass index (BMI) for children and teens is also calculated using height and weight, but for children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific. This means that after BMI is calculated, it is compared to a graph or percentile that compares a child’s BMI to the BMIs of children who participated in US national surveys. These BMI growth charts change by age and are different for boys and girls.
Like in adults, BMI is a screening tool that can be helpful in determining a person’s health status when used with other health assessment tools by a health provider. A high amount of body fat in children and teens can lead to weight-related diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems, and breathing problems. Childhood obesity has also been related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social problems like bullying.
Child and Teen BMI Categories:
- Less than 5th percentile: Underweight
- 5th percentile to less than 85th percentile: Healthy weight
- 85th percentile to less than 95th percentile: Overweight
- Equal or greater than the 95th percentile: Obese
Data value category ranges: 25.2 – 29.5 | 29.6 – 33.9 | 34.0 – 38.3 | 38.4 – 42.7 | 42.8 – 47.3
Click for Data Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 27). About adult BMI. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 17). About child & teen BMI. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, March 19). Childhood obesity causes & consequences. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html#Consequences
- DSHS Health Data. 2011-2020 Data Tables. Accessed Feb 14, 2022. https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/surveys-and-profiles/brfss
- Hales CM, Carrol MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults: United States, 2017-2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 360. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020. Accessed February 14, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm
- County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Taylor County, TX 2021 Rankings. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/texas/2021/overview
- The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Health Living. “Texas Child Health Status Report: Child Obesity Crisis in Texas”. Updated October 19, 2021. https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/dell/texas-child-health-status-report/
- Data source: CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. PLACES: County Data (GIS Friendly), 2021 release. https://chronicdata.cdc.gov/500-Cities-Places/PLACES-County-Data-GIS-Friendly-Format-2021-releas/i46a-9kgh
- Data source: CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. PLACES: County Data (GIS Friendly), 2020 release. https://chronicdata.cdc.gov/500-Cities-Places/PLACES-County-Data-GIS-Friendly-Format-2020-releas/mssc-ksj7
- Data source: CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. PLACES: ZCTA Data (GIS Friendly), 2021 release. https://chronicdata.cdc.gov/500-Cities-Places/PLACES-ZCTA-Data-GIS-Friendly-Format-2021-release/kee5-23sr
- County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Taylor County, TX 2010-2021 Rankings. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings/rankings-data-documentation
