Bartow Fatter Than the National Average

By HEATHER MARTINO

America’s epidemic of fatness extends all the way to Bartow County, with obesity rates at 37.3 percent for men and 36.3 percent for women in 2011. Using the map above, you can see the rate was 31.3 percent for men and 29.6 percent for women in 2001.

Obesity in Georgia increased slightly more than in Bartow County, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

But compared to other states, folks in Bartow are heavier than the national average of 33.8 percent for men and 36.1 for women. In 2011, obesity prevalence for both genders in the U.S. ranged from 20.7 percent in Colorado to 34.9 percent in Mississippi, according to the CDC.

These figures were obtained from a recent study from the University of Washington.

According to the CDC, obesity affects more than one-third of adults, or 35.7 percent of the population in the United States. Obesity is calculated by measuring a person’s height and weight, and deriving at a ratio called the body mass index, or BMI. This number often correlates to an individual’s amount of body fat, and is used to ascertain whether a person is considered underweight, a normal weight, overweight or obese.

Obese individuals have a 50-100 percent increased risk of premature death, and it’s estimated that obesity may be the cause of 300,000 deaths per year according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Interestingly, Americans claim to be exercising more during the same time period that obesity climbed. “Around the country, you can see huge increases in the percentage of people becoming physically active, which research tells us is certain to have health benefits,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray in a press release. Murray added that “If communities in the US can replicate this success and tackle the ongoing obesity impact, it will see more substantial health gains.”

The good news is that there may be silver lining to America’s fat epidemic. While we’re still getting fatter, at least it’s happening at a slower rate than in past years. And if this rate continues to drop, Bartow might soon be reporting slimmer, healthier residents.

Here are resources to help you, your children, friends or loved ones deal with obesity from the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Association and ABC News: 

• Tools for Parents, Teachers, Students, and Community Leaders to Eliminate Childhood Obesity
• Action for Healthy Kids
• AMA Healthy Lifestyles: Obesity
• AMA Healthy Lifestyles: Childhood Obesity
• Tips to starting a fitness routine
• Healthy Shopping List
• Fat-Free vs. Calories

Healthy Recipes

• Roasted pork loin with acorn squash 
• Bread salad with roasted red peppers 
• Baked stuffed apples