Health
Prevalence of Overweight Adults, 2012-14


Prevalence of Overweight Adults, 2012-14

What does this measure?

The percentage of adults who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25. The index is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. A person with a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, and those with a BMI over 30 are considered obese.

Why is this important?

Being overweight or obese puts a person at greater risk for a wide variety of serious health problems. Obesity is recognized as a national problem that has grown tremendously over the last three decades, contributing to increases in medical expenditures for treatment of related diseases.

How is our county doing?

In 2012-14, 63% of Essex County residents were considered overweight or obese. This was a bit higher than the state rate of 59%. The highest rates for overweight or obese can be found in Lawrence (68%), Lynn (67%), and Haverhill and Middleton (both at 65%), while the lowest were in Georgetown (51%), North Andover (52%), and Newburyport, Beverly and Essex (all at 53%).

How do we compare to similar counties?

In 2012-14, the rate in Essex County was 9 percentage points higher than Middlesex, MA (54%). Figures for Lake, IL and Westchester, NY were not available.

Notes about the data

Data come from a federal government survey designed to collect scientific data on health risks and behaviors. Respondents were asked for their height and weight for a computation of Body Mass Index.

Beginning in 2011, the Centers for Disease Control made two changes to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on which this indicator is based. The survey now includes cell-phone users, and a new statistical method is used to weight responses. As a result, changes from 2010 to 2011 may be a result of those technical changes rather than true trends.

Prevalence of Overweight Adults, 2012-14
CombinedObeseOverweight
Essex County, MA63%25%38%
Amesbury56%22%34%
Beverly53%21%32%
Gloucester57%24%33%
Haverhill65%25%40%
Lawrence68%33%35%
Lynn67%31%36%
Methuen63%25%38%
Newburyport53%21%32%
Peabody63%24%39%
Salem62%24%38%
Andover54%17%38%
Boxford55%22%34%
Danvers59%24%35%
Essex53%19%34%
Georgetown51%19%32%
Groveland58%21%36%
Hamilton54%19%35%
Ipswich55%18%37%
Lynnfield61%26%35%
Marblehead56%17%38%
Middleton65%20%46%
Nahant62%21%41%
Newbury57%21%37%
North Andover52%20%32%
Rockport56%20%36%
Salisbury63%26%37%
Saugus64%26%38%
Swampscott56%19%37%
Topsfield56%19%37%
West Newbury56%20%36%
Middlesex County, MA54%20%34%
Massachusetts59%24%35%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Notes: Figures are adults, 18 and over, with a BMI greater than 25.








Prevalence of Overweight Adults, 2012-14
CombinedObeseOverweight
Essex County, MA63%25%38%
Amesbury56%22%34%
Beverly53%21%32%
Gloucester57%24%33%
Haverhill65%25%40%
Lawrence68%33%35%
Lynn67%31%36%
Methuen63%25%38%
Newburyport53%21%32%
Peabody63%24%39%
Salem62%24%38%
Andover54%17%38%
Boxford55%22%34%
Danvers59%24%35%
Essex53%19%34%
Georgetown51%19%32%
Groveland58%21%36%
Hamilton54%19%35%
Ipswich55%18%37%
Lynnfield61%26%35%
Marblehead56%17%38%
Middleton65%20%46%
Nahant62%21%41%
Newbury57%21%37%
North Andover52%20%32%
Rockport56%20%36%
Salisbury63%26%37%
Saugus64%26%38%
Swampscott56%19%37%
Topsfield56%19%37%
West Newbury56%20%36%
Middlesex County, MA54%20%34%
Massachusetts59%24%35%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Notes: Figures are adults, 18 and over, with a BMI greater than 25.








INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable