1. Obesity: Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
Definitions:
Obesity: Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Body mass index (BMI): A measure of an adult’s weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the adult’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meters.

2. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
Methods:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Self-reported weights and heights.
Limited to three years of data and limited to three racial/ethnic populations; non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics.
Age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

3. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity. Among U. S
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
White non-Hispanic
Black non-Hispanic
Hispanic
(*BMI 30)

4. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity. Among U. S
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
White non-Hispanic
(*BMI 30)

5. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity. Among U. S
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
Black non-Hispanic
(*BMI 30)

6. State-specific Prevalence of Obesity. Among U. S
State-specific Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Adults, by Race/Ethnicity,
Hispanic
(*BMI 30)

7. Table. Prevalence of obesity, by region and race/ethnicity, 2006-2008
Non-Hispanic white
Non-Hispanic black
Hispanic
Total
Both sexes
23.7
35.7
28.7
Men
25.4
31.6
27.8
Women
21.8
39.2
29.4
Northeast
22.6
31.7
26.6
25.0
26.5
26.9
20.0
36.1
26.0
Midwest
36.3
29.6
27.0
32.1
29.7
23.8
40.1
29.2
South
24.4
36.9
26.3
32.6
28.3
22.5
40.6
West
21.0
33.1
29.0
22.1
34.1
27.3
19.8
32.0
30.4

8. For non-Hispanic blacks
Summary
Non-Hispanic blacks had the highest prevalence, followed by Hispanics, and non-Hispanic whites
For non-Hispanic blacks
Overall prevalence of obesity—35.7%
Higher prevalences were found in the Midwest and South
Prevalence ranged from 23.0% (New Hampshire) to 45.1% (Maine)
40 states had a prevalence of ≥ 30%
5 states (Alabama, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, and Oregon) had a prevalence of ≥ 40%
Compared to non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks had about 50% higher prevalence of obesity, and Hispanics had about 20% higher prevalence

9. For non-Hispanic whites
Summary (Cont’d)
For Hispanics
Overall prevalence of obesity—28.7%
Lower prevalence was observed in the Northeast
Prevalence ranged from 21.0% (Maryland) to 36.7% (Tennessee)
11 states had a prevalence of ≥ 30%
For non-Hispanic whites
Overall prevalence of obesity—23.7%
Higher prevalences were found in the Midwest and South
Prevalence ranged from 9.0% (DC) to 30.2% (West Virginia)
Only one state (West Virginia) had a prevalence of ≥ 30%
5 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New Mexico) and DC had a prevalence of <20%
The 11 states with a prevalence >=30% among Hispanics are Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas,