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OBESITY

Approximately 39.8% of the U.S. population, or 93.3 million adults, are affected by obesity according to the 2015-2016 National Center for Health Statistics data brief.

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OVERWEIGHT

61.9% of Somerset County residents are overweight or obese 

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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The percent of Somerset County residents reporting no leisure time physical activity between 2015-2016 trended upward from 15.8% in 2014 to 23.6% in 2016.

* date of latest available data

OVERVIEW

Obesity and overweight are abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. A crude population measure of obesity is body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese; a person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is overweight. Being overweight or obese can have a serious impact on health. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke), Type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon). These conditions can cause premature death and disability as well as long- term consequences for individuals and families. In addition, the costs of care are high. Prevention and wellness programs are important factors in addressing the negative health effects of excess weight.

HOW WE’RE GETTING THERE

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