Skip directly to searchSkip directly to the site navigationSkip directly to the page's main content

Obesity Among Adults by Year, New Jersey and the United States, 2011 to 2020

Indicator Report Data View Options

Year20112012201320142015201620172018201920200.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%Estimated Percentage of Adults Aged 20 Years and Older (Age-adjusted)Obesity Among Adults by Year, New Jersey and the United States, 2011 to 2020New JerseyUnited States
New Jersey, United StatesYearEstimated Percentage of Adults Aged 20 Years and Older (Age-adjusted)95% Confidence Interval, Lower Limit95% Confidence Interval, Upper LimitFootnotes

New Jersey

 34000New Jersey2011201123.8%22.7%24.9%
 34000New Jersey2012201224.6%23.6%25.7%
 34000New Jersey2013201326.8%25.5%28.1%
 34000New Jersey2014201426.9%25.7%28.2%
 34000New Jersey2015201525.8%24.4%27.2%
 34000New Jersey2016201627.0%25.2%28.8%
 34000New Jersey2017201727.7%26.0%29.4%
 34000New Jersey2018201826.2%23.6%29.0%
 34000New Jersey20192019NA
 34000New Jersey2020202028.6%27.3%29.9%

United States

 100000United States2011201127.9%27.7%28.2%
 100000United States2012201228.2%27.9%28.5%
 100000United States2013201328.7%28.5%29.0%
 100000United States2014201429.4%29.1%29.7%
 100000United States2015201529.3%29.0%29.6%
 100000United States2016201630.0%29.8%30.4%
 100000United States2017201730.6%30.2%30.9%
 100000United States2018201831.1%30.8%31.4%
 100000United States2019201931.5%31.2%31.8%
 100000United States2020202032.2%31.8%32.5%
  • NAData not available

Why Is This Important?

Adults who are obese are at increased risk of morbidity from hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis.

Definition

Percentage of respondents who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 calculated from self-reported weight and height. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.

Respondents tend to overestimate their height and underestimate their weight leading to underestimation of BMI and the prevalence of obesity.

Data Notes

  • Data have been age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.
  • No data were collected in 2019.

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

  • Numerator:

    Number of respondents who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m2 calculated from self-reported weight and height.

  • Denominator:

    Number of adult respondents for whom BMI can be calculated from their self-reported weight and height (excludes unknowns or refusals for weight and height).

Data Issues

Data from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey are intended to be representative of all non-institutionalized adult residents of New Jersey. Due to resource issues, however, adults with limited personal access to phone service or limited command of either English or Spanish are not represented. As with all surveys, also, some error results from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions), and faulty measurement (e.g., responses affected by social desirability or recall error). Data collection procedures intended to minimize such errors include the use of strict calling protocols, good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision. Statistical weighting procedures are also used to minimize the potential impact of disproportionate representation of demographic subgroups defined in terms of age, sex, race, ethnicity, education level, marital status, home ownership, and county of residence. (See also Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Data Description and Technical Notes.)

Related Health Objectives and Indicators







Relevant Population Characteristics

Population-based obesity-prevention services may be useful in containing the obesity epidemic. The magnitude of the association appears to be strong among low-income population and among women.1

1. Chen Z, Roy K., Gotway Crawford CA. Obesity Prevention: The Impact of Local Health Departments. Health Services Research. 2013, 48(2):603-627.

Note: Custom data views of the prevalence of obesity among New Jersey adults by selected sociodemographic and other characteristics (including local health jurisdiction) can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

Health Care System Factors

Since September 2018, the USPSTF1 has recommended that clinicians offer or refer adults with a body mass index of 30 or higher (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions.

1. United States Preventive Services Task Force. Weight Loss to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Adults: Behavioral Interventions. [last accessed: 1/29/20]

Risk Factors

Genetic or familial factors may increase the risk for being overweight or obese for some people, but anyone whose calorie intake exceeds the number of calories they burn is at risk. Physical activity and a healthy diet are both important for obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight.

Note: Custom data views of the prevalence of obesity among New Jersey adults by selected sociodemographic and other characteristics (including physical activity) can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

Related Risk Factors Indicators:

Health Status Outcomes

According to the CDC1, the health consequences of overweight and obesity among adults include high blood pressure (hypertension); high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (dyslipidemia); Type 2 diabetes; coronary heart disease; stroke; gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea and breathing problems; some cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and liver); low quality of life, mental illness (including clinical depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders); body pain; and difficulty with physical functioning.

Note: Custom data views of the estimated prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, arthritis, clinical depression, and difficulty with physical functioning among New Jersey adults by selected sociodemographic and other characteristics can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How Overweight and Obesity Impacts Your Health [last reviewed: 1/4/24]

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:

Health Topic Pages Related to: Obesity Among Adults

Indicator Data Last Updated On 10/03/2023, Published on 07/30/2024
Office of Nutrition and Fitness, Division of Community Health, New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton, NJ 08625 (https://www.nj.gov/health/nutrition/)