CDC Identifies Regional Patterns of Obesity, Diabetes

Counties with the highest rates of obesity and diabetes are disproportionately located in the Southeast and western Appalachian regions of the United States, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 80% of counties in the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia reported high rates of obesity and diabetes, while three-fourths of counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina reported similarly high rates, according to the CDC.

“Isolated counties, including tribal lands in the western United States, also had high prevalence of diabetes and obesity,” the researchers wrote (MMWR 2009;58:1259-63).

The results came from a self-reported telephone survey conducted in all 3,141 U.S. counties in 2007. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m

The 10.6% or higher prevalence of diabetes—the top quintile of survey results—existed primarily in the belt extending from the Mississippi River to the coastal Carolinas and in the Appalachians. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia, 73% of counties had diabetes rates in the top quintile, and 70% of counties had obesity rates in the top quintile.

On a county level, the prevalence of obesity was highly correlated with the prevalence of diabetes. For example, a county with an obesity rate five percentage points higher than another county also had a diabetes rate that was at least 1.4 percentage points higher.

The strong regional patterns of obesity and diabetes are believed to exist because of a convergence of social norms, community and environmental factors, socioeconomic status, and genetic risk factors, according to researchers. Evidence suggests that successful interventions, particularly for diabetes prevention and control, often depend on efficient referral to local community programs (Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008;35:357-63).

As medical costs associated with obesity reached an estimated $147 billion in 2008 and diabetes costs reached $116 billion, researchers hope the results will help target prevention and intervention efforts to the high-risk regions found in the survey.

“Diabetes is costly in human and economic terms, and it's urgent that we take action to prevent and control this serious disease,” Dr. Ann Albright, director of the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, said in a written statement. “The study shows strong regional patterns of diabetes and can help focus prevention efforts where they are most needed.”

The researchers concluded that comprehensive disease surveillance systems are necessary for developing preventive health policies and tracking their impact in high-risk populations.

The report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5845a2.htm

Counties with the highest rates of obesity and diabetes are disproportionately located in the Southeast and western Appalachian regions of the United States, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 80% of counties in the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia reported high rates of obesity and diabetes, while three-fourths of counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina reported similarly high rates, according to the CDC.

“Isolated counties, including tribal lands in the western United States, also had high prevalence of diabetes and obesity,” the researchers wrote (MMWR 2009;58:1259-63).

The results came from a self-reported telephone survey conducted in all 3,141 U.S. counties in 2007. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m

The 10.6% or higher prevalence of diabetes—the top quintile of survey results—existed primarily in the belt extending from the Mississippi River to the coastal Carolinas and in the Appalachians. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia, 73% of counties had diabetes rates in the top quintile, and 70% of counties had obesity rates in the top quintile.

On a county level, the prevalence of obesity was highly correlated with the prevalence of diabetes. For example, a county with an obesity rate five percentage points higher than another county also had a diabetes rate that was at least 1.4 percentage points higher.

The strong regional patterns of obesity and diabetes are believed to exist because of a convergence of social norms, community and environmental factors, socioeconomic status, and genetic risk factors, according to researchers. Evidence suggests that successful interventions, particularly for diabetes prevention and control, often depend on efficient referral to local community programs (Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008;35:357-63).

As medical costs associated with obesity reached an estimated $147 billion in 2008 and diabetes costs reached $116 billion, researchers hope the results will help target prevention and intervention efforts to the high-risk regions found in the survey.

“Diabetes is costly in human and economic terms, and it's urgent that we take action to prevent and control this serious disease,” Dr. Ann Albright, director of the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, said in a written statement. “The study shows strong regional patterns of diabetes and can help focus prevention efforts where they are most needed.”

The researchers concluded that comprehensive disease surveillance systems are necessary for developing preventive health policies and tracking their impact in high-risk populations.

The report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5845a2.htm

Counties with the highest rates of obesity and diabetes are disproportionately located in the Southeast and western Appalachian regions of the United States, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 80% of counties in the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia reported high rates of obesity and diabetes, while three-fourths of counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina reported similarly high rates, according to the CDC.

“Isolated counties, including tribal lands in the western United States, also had high prevalence of diabetes and obesity,” the researchers wrote (MMWR 2009;58:1259-63).

The results came from a self-reported telephone survey conducted in all 3,141 U.S. counties in 2007. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m

The 10.6% or higher prevalence of diabetes—the top quintile of survey results—existed primarily in the belt extending from the Mississippi River to the coastal Carolinas and in the Appalachians. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia, 73% of counties had diabetes rates in the top quintile, and 70% of counties had obesity rates in the top quintile.

On a county level, the prevalence of obesity was highly correlated with the prevalence of diabetes. For example, a county with an obesity rate five percentage points higher than another county also had a diabetes rate that was at least 1.4 percentage points higher.

The strong regional patterns of obesity and diabetes are believed to exist because of a convergence of social norms, community and environmental factors, socioeconomic status, and genetic risk factors, according to researchers. Evidence suggests that successful interventions, particularly for diabetes prevention and control, often depend on efficient referral to local community programs (Am. J. Prev. Med. 2008;35:357-63).

As medical costs associated with obesity reached an estimated $147 billion in 2008 and diabetes costs reached $116 billion, researchers hope the results will help target prevention and intervention efforts to the high-risk regions found in the survey.

“Diabetes is costly in human and economic terms, and it's urgent that we take action to prevent and control this serious disease,” Dr. Ann Albright, director of the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, said in a written statement. “The study shows strong regional patterns of diabetes and can help focus prevention efforts where they are most needed.”

The researchers concluded that comprehensive disease surveillance systems are necessary for developing preventive health policies and tracking their impact in high-risk populations.

The report is available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5845a2.htm