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Health Indicator Report of Overweight or obese

Obesity is a costly and serious chronic condition.1 Adults who have obesity are at an increased risk of other health conditions and diseases, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, stroke, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis. The economic impacts of obesity include an estimated $173 billion in annual medical care costs.2

While there is no single solution to addressing obesity, state and local organizations, communities, and individuals can create environments that support healthy lifestyles. This includes supporting Family Healthy Weight Programs, healthy eating and active living in community settings, and implementing early care and education policies.3

To learn more about how the Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program is supporting these strategies, visit heal.utah.gov

1. CDC Overweight and Obesity
2. CDC Consequences of Obesity
3. CDC Obesity Strategies: What Can Be Done
Utah Small AreasBrigham CityBox Elder Co (Other) V2TremontonLogan V2North LoganCache (Other)/Rich (All) V2HyrumSmithfieldBen LomondWeber County (East)Morgan CountyOgden (Downtown)South OgdenRoy/HooperRiverdaleClearfield Area/HooperLayton/South WeberKaysville/Fruit HeightsSyracuseCentervilleFarmingtonNorth Salt LakeWoods Cross/West BountifulBountifulSLC (Rose Park)SLC (Avenues)SLC (Foothill/East Bench)MagnaSLC (Glendale) V2West Valley (Center)West Valley (West) V2West Valley (East) V2SLC (Downtown) V2SLC (Southeast Liberty)South Salt LakeSLC (Sugar House)Millcreek (South)Millcreek (East)Holladay V2CottonwoodKearns V2Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)Taylorsville (West)MurrayMidvaleWest Jordan (Northeast) V2West Jordan (Southeast)West Jordan (W)/CoppertonSouth Jordan V2DaybreakSandy (West)Sandy (Center) V2Sandy (Northeast)Sandy (Southeast)DraperRiverton/BluffdaleHerrimanTooele County (Other)Tooele ValleyEagle Mountain/Cedar ValleyLehiSaratoga SpringsAmerican ForkAlpinePleasant Grove/LindonOrem (North)Orem (West)Orem (East)Provo/BYUProvo (West City Center)Provo (East City Center)Salem CitySpanish ForkSpringvilleMapletonUtah County (South) V2PaysonPark CitySummit County (East)Wasatch CountyDaggett and Uintah CountyDuchesne CountyNephi/MonaDelta/FillmoreSanpete ValleyCentral (Other)Richfield/Monroe/SalinaCarbon CountyEmery CountyGrand CountyBlanding/MonticelloSan Juan County (Other)St. GeorgeWashington Co (Other) V2Washington CityHurricane/La VerkinIvins/Santa ClaraCedar CitySouthwest LHD (Other)State of Utah0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100.0%Age-adjusted percentage of adultsOverweight or obese by Utah Small Area, 2021-2023
For the combined years 2021-2023, Park City (42.6%) had the lowest rate of overweight/obesity. The highest rates were seen for Nephi/Mona (80.3%), Magna (79.6%), San Juan (Other) (79.2%), Payson (78.8%), and Wood Cross/West Bountiful (78.7%).

Overweight or obese by Utah Small Area, 2021-2023

Utah Small AreasAge-adjusted percentage of adultsLower 95% CIUpper 95% CIOther
Brigham City73.3%65.2%80.1%
Box Elder Co (Other) V274.0%64.1%81.9%
Tremonton64.2%54.5%72.9%
Logan V263.9%58.2%69.1%
North Logan61.5%53.7%68.7%
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V265.8%56.8%73.8%
Hyrum73.1%61.9%82.0%
Smithfield69.6%61.6%76.7%
Ben Lomond71.6%66.7%76.1%Higher than the state
Weber County (East)61.4%54.7%67.7%
Morgan County66.3%57.0%74.4%
Ogden (Downtown)66.7%60.6%72.3%
South Ogden66.8%61.0%72.2%
Roy/Hooper73.6%68.0%78.6%Higher than the state
Riverdale73.5%67.3%78.9%Higher than the state
Clearfield Area/Hooper73.3%68.0%78.0%Higher than the state
Layton/South Weber69.4%64.3%74.1%
Kaysville/Fruit Heights61.3%53.6%68.5%
Syracuse72.1%64.3%78.7%
Centerville72.5%61.4%81.3%
Farmington62.5%52.8%71.2%
North Salt Lake65.3%54.2%75.0%
Woods Cross/West Bountiful78.7%65.9%87.6%
Bountiful62.8%56.2%69.0%
SLC (Rose Park)65.1%57.1%72.4%
SLC (Avenues)43.5%35.0%52.5%Lower than the state
SLC (Foothill/East Bench)47.2%37.9%56.7%Lower than the state
Magna79.6%72.9%85.0%Higher than the state
SLC (Glendale) V275.4%64.2%83.9%
West Valley (Center)76.6%69.8%82.2%Higher than the state
West Valley (West) V278.1%70.5%84.2%Higher than the state
West Valley (East) V272.2%65.6%77.9%
SLC (Downtown) V256.4%50.1%62.4%Lower than the state
SLC (Southeast Liberty)52.6%42.6%62.4%Lower than the state
South Salt Lake59.4%50.9%67.3%
SLC (Sugar House)59.5%52.3%66.4%
Millcreek (South)53.6%44.3%62.7%Lower than the state
Millcreek (East)48.8%41.0%56.7%Lower than the state
Holladay V257.5%48.0%66.4%
Cottonwood52.7%45.2%60.0%Lower than the state
Kearns V274.7%67.2%80.9%Higher than the state
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)70.3%63.9%75.9%
Taylorsville (West)77.4%71.4%82.5%Higher than the state
Murray60.8%53.3%67.7%
Midvale70.4%63.0%76.8%
West Jordan (Northeast) V265.5%57.5%72.6%
West Jordan (Southeast)74.8%67.6%80.8%Higher than the state
West Jordan (W)/Copperton68.5%61.8%74.4%
South Jordan V265.6%58.5%72.1%
Daybreak65.7%58.3%72.4%
Sandy (West)70.0%61.2%77.5%
Sandy (Center) V266.0%57.3%73.7%
Sandy (Northeast)58.6%49.6%67.0%
Sandy (Southeast)52.9%43.8%61.8%Lower than the state
Draper57.7%49.9%65.0%Lower than the state
Riverton/Bluffdale72.3%66.5%77.4%Higher than the state
Herriman69.9%64.2%75.1%
Tooele County (Other)67.5%59.3%74.7%
Tooele Valley70.8%66.8%74.5%Higher than the state
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley67.7%60.4%74.2%
Lehi63.1%58.3%67.6%
Saratoga Springs66.5%59.1%73.1%
American Fork65.3%59.7%70.5%
Alpine51.5%37.7%65.0%Lower than the state
Pleasant Grove/Lindon63.9%58.8%68.7%
Orem (North)67.7%61.1%73.6%
Orem (West)64.6%58.8%70.0%
Orem (East)61.2%53.3%68.5%
Provo/BYU62.5%55.9%68.6%
Provo (West City Center)69.1%62.3%75.2%
Provo (East City Center)63.6%54.8%71.6%
Salem City61.9%49.1%73.3%
Spanish Fork72.7%66.7%78.0%Higher than the state
Springville67.0%60.7%72.8%
Mapleton65.2%51.6%76.6%
Utah County (South) V272.6%63.5%80.2%
Payson78.8%72.4%84.0%Higher than the state
Park City42.6%35.9%49.6%Lower than the state
Summit County (East)58.8%50.2%66.9%
Wasatch County54.8%49.0%60.4%Lower than the state
Daggett and Uintah County70.7%66.2%74.8%Higher than the state
Duchesne County67.8%60.8%74.1%
Nephi/Mona80.3%68.0%88.6%Higher than the state
Delta/Fillmore69.6%58.7%78.7%
Sanpete Valley69.3%61.3%76.4%
Central (Other)63.4%57.2%69.2%
Richfield/Monroe/Salina67.6%60.1%74.2%
Carbon County65.1%58.7%70.9%
Emery County73.0%63.9%80.5%
Grand County59.1%48.8%68.6%
Blanding/Monticello69.8%61.1%77.3%
San Juan County (Other)79.2%69.1%86.7%Higher than the state
St. George67.3%62.9%71.5%
Washington Co (Other) V269.2%58.6%78.1%
Washington City72.6%64.7%79.3%
Hurricane/La Verkin64.2%56.2%71.5%
Ivins/Santa Clara72.6%60.8%81.9%
Cedar City66.4%59.9%72.3%
Southwest LHD (Other)66.8%57.5%75.0%
State of Utah66.0%65.3%66.7%

Notes

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) that is between 25.0 to <30. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more.

BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.1

1. CDC https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/data-trends-maps/help/npao_dtm/definitions.html.  

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

A description of the Utah Small Areas may be found on the Methodology and Guidelines page at: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/resource/Guidelines.html.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html

Data Interpretation Issues

To reduce bias and more accurately represent population data, the BRFSS has changed survey methodology. In 2010, it began conducting surveys by cellular phone in addition to landline phones. It also adopted "iterative proportional fitting" (raking) as its weighting method. More details about these changes can be found at: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf.

Most of the rates shown are age-adjusted. Age-adjusting allows the prevalence of a disease or condition in different populations to be compared as though both populations had the same age distribution.

Definition

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) that is between 25.0 to <30. Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more.

BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.1

1. CDC Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity

Numerator

The number of respondents age 18 years and older who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25.0 kg/m2 calculated from self-reported weight and height.

Denominator

The number of respondents age 18 years and older for whom BMI can be calculated from their self-reported weight and height (excludes unknowns or refusals for weight and height).

Other Objectives

The U.S. Healthy People 2030 objective is Nutrition and Weight Status 03 (NWS-03): Reduce the proportion of adults with obesity.

The U.S. target has been set for 36.0 percent of adults aged 20 or over.

See Healthy People 2030.

How Are We Doing?

In 2023, 65.8% of adults (age-adjusted) had a BMI of 25 or greater. There has been a steady increase in those with an overweight classification or obesity in Utah, with a 3.1% percentage point increase from 2018 (63.4%) to 2022. Higher rates of having an overweight classification or obesity are found in Juab (86.8%) and Tooele (72.3%) counties. Summit (50.7%) and Wasatch (50.9%) counties have the lowest rates of adults with an overweight classification or obesity (2023 age-adjusted rates).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2022, 33.3% of adults had obesity and 34.1% had an overweight classification nationally.1

66.5% of adults (age-adjusted) had a BMI of 25 or greater in Utah, with 34.6% having an overweight classification and 32% having obesity.

1. CDC National Obesity/Weight Status

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program plays a key role in improving the health of residents in the state of Utah. The program was formed in July 2013 (as Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care: EPICC), through a new funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that allowed for the merging of three previously existing programs: the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program, as well as the addition of a school health program. HEAL was recently restructured as part of a strategic planning process and the new program model focuses on staff and partners working together to address the social determinants of health while advancing health equity and increasing policy, systems and environmental changes.

HEAL works:

In schools:
HEAL encourages schools to adopt the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program. This framework encourages students to be physically active for 60 minutes a day through school, home, and community activities. HEAL also tracks height and weight trends in elementary school students.

In worksites:
HEAL offers training on developing worksite wellness programs called Work@Health. HEAL partners with local health departments to encourage worksites to complete the CDC Scorecard and participate in yearly health risk assessments for their employees. HEAL provides toolkits and other resources for employers interested in implementing wellness programs https://heal.utah.gov/worksite-wellness.

In communities:
HEAL receives federal funding to partner with worksites and community-based organizations to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in worksite and community settings. HEAL also partners with LHDs to work with cities and/or counties within their jurisdictions to create a built environment that encourages physical activity.

In healthcare:
HEAL works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension to engage in lifestyle change programs such as chronic disease self-management and diabetes prevention programs.

In childcare:
HEAL works with state and local partners through the Childcare Obesity Prevention workgroup to implement policy and systems changes in early care and education across agencies statewide. Ten local health departments statewide have implemented the TOP Star program, which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and environments and achieve best practices in childcare centers and homes.

Available Services

Please see the website for the Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) program, located under the Utah Department of Health and Human Services: https://heal.utah.gov/

Health Program Information

Overarching Goals:

Healthy People: Increase access to resources that empower all people in Utah to reach their full health potential.

Healthy Communities: Increase the capacity of communities to support and promote healthy living for all individuals.

Equitable Society: Increase opportunities for people who are under-resourced and under-represented in Utah to live healthy and thriving lives.
Page Content Updated On 10/18/2024, Published on 10/22/2024
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Wed, 02 April 2025 22:19:41 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Thu, 6 Feb 2025 13:01:20 MST