63 Percent Of NY Adults Are Overweight Or Obese, 2021 Survey Says

NEW YORK — More than 63 percent of adults in New York are overweight or obese, a 2021 New York State Department of Health phone survey revealed.

According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual survey developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around two out of every three adult New Yorkers—a total of 8.4 million people—are either overweight (34.5%) or obese (29.1%).

Furthermore, according to the survey, obesity is more prevalent in disabled adults (38.1%), adults living in rural areas (35.9%), and adults living outside of New York City (31.6%).

While the survey did not give area-specific data, according to the most recent data on the Health Department's Community Health Indicator Reports dashboard, Long Island's overall overweight or obesity rate among "age-adjusted" adults is slightly higher than the statewide percentage at 64.9%, with 27% classified as obese. In Nassau, 60.5% of adults were listed as overweight or obese, and 24.9% were listed as obese. In Suffolk, 69.1% were listed as overweight or obese and 29% as obese.

Furthermore, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data shows that racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity persist; obesity rates are higher among adults who are Black, non-Hispanic (36.8%), and Hispanic (33.5%).

"These groups experience persistent disparities in obesity caused by systemic and institutional barriers, such as lack of access to healthy, affordable foods and beverages, safe and convenient places for physical activity, and healthcare services," according to the survey's briefing.

The survey reveals lower rates of obesity in New York State adults between the ages of 18-24, adults with a college degree, and adults with a household income greater than $50,000 per year.

"Disparities in obesity underscore the need to address social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, to remove barriers to health," the briefing said, in part. "Creating community environments, policies, and systems that support healthy food and beverage choices and safe and accessible physical activity opportunities, while also increasing efforts to reduce health disparities and inequities, is a major goal in the effort to prevent and reduce the burden of chronic diseases as part of the NYS Prevention Agenda 2019-2024."

The briefing added that addressing obesity is important because it is "associated with a range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, sleep apnea, some cancers, and increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. "

In addition, obesity is estimated to cost approximately $173 billion dollars in national healthcare expenses each year, according to the briefing.

For more information, visit the New York State Department of Health.