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

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