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Somerset County Public Health Profile Report

Obesity Among Adults: Estimated Percent (Age-adjusted), 2017-2020*

  • Somerset
    24.8
    95% Confidence Interval (19.9 - 30.5)
    State
    27.9
    U.S.NA
    NA=Data not available.
  • Somerset Compared to State

    gauge ranking
    Description of Gauge

    Description of the Gauge

    This graphic is based on the county data to the left. It compares the county value of this indicator to the state overall value.
    • Excellent = The county's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
    • Watch = The county's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Improvement Needed = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Reason for Concern = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.

    The county value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the county's 95% confidence interval. If the county's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."
    NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the county's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the county and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a county should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the county number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.

Why Is This Important?

Adults who are obese are at increased risk of morbidity from hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis.

Risk and Resiliency Factors

'''Genetic''' or '''familial''' factors may increase the risk for being overweight or obese for some people, but anyone whose '''calorie intake''' exceeds the number of calories they burn is at risk. '''Physical activity''' and a '''healthy diet''' are both important for obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight. Note: [https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/query/builder/njbrfs/BMIObese/BMIObeseAA11_.html Custom data views] of the prevalence of obesity among New Jersey adults by selected '''sociodemographic and other characteristics''' (including '''physical activity)''' can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

How Are We Doing?

The age-adjusted prevalence of obese New Jersey adults increased from 23.8% in 2011 to 28.6% in 2020.

What Is Being Done?

The New Jersey Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (NPAO) Program within the NJDOH Office of Nutrition and Fitness coordinates efforts to work with communities to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address behaviors related to increasing physical activity, breastfeeding initiation and duration, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and to decreasing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-energy-dense foods, and to decrease television viewing.

Healthy People Objective NWS-9:

Reduce the proportion of adults who are obese
U.S. Target: 30.6 percent (age-adjusted)
State Target: 23.8 percent (age-adjusted)

Note

All prevalence estimates are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population (except for estimates by age group). Respondents tend to overestimate their height and underestimate their weight leading to underestimation of BMI and the prevalence of obesity.  *2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019.

Data Sources

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]  

Measure Description for Obesity Among Adults

Definition: Percentage of respondents who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 calculated from self-reported weight and height. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.
Numerator: Number of respondents who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 calculated from self-reported weight and height.
Denominator: Number of adult respondents for whom BMI can be calculated from their self-reported weight and height (excludes unknowns or refusals for weight and height).

Indicator Profile Report

Percentage of Adults Aged 20+ Who are Obese (exits this report)

Date Content Last Updated

10/27/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 18:45:23 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

Content updated: no date