IBIS-PH - Health Indicator Report

Why Is This Important?

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

Chart

Data Table

Overweight or obese by year, Utah and U.S., 2002-2023

	BRFSS Utah vs. U.S. Series Value	BRFSS Utah vs. U.S.	Year	Age-adjusted percentage of adults	Lower 95% CI	Upper 95% CI
UT Old Methodology
	1	UT Old Methodology	2002	56.6%	54.6%	58.6%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2003	56.7%	54.7%	58.7%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2004	58.6%	56.9%	60.2%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2005	58.5%	56.8%	60.1%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2006	57.5%	55.8%	59.2%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2007	59.7%	57.9%	61.5%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2008	60.3%	58.6%	62.0%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2009		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2010		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2011		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2012		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2013		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2014		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2015		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2016		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2017		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2018		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2019		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2020		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2021		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2022		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2023		n/a	n/a
US Old Methodology
	2	US Old Methodology	2002	58.5%	58.2%	58.9%
	2	US Old Methodology	2003	59.1%	58.8%	59.5%
	2	US Old Methodology	2004	60.1%	59.7%	60.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2005	61.1%	60.7%	61.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2006	61.1%	60.7%	61.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2007	62.1%	61.8%	62.5%
	2	US Old Methodology	2008	62.7%	62.4%	63.0%
	2	US Old Methodology	2009	63.1%	62.8%	63.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2010	63.0%	62.7%	63.3%
	2	US Old Methodology	2011		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2012		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2013		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2014		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2015		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2016		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2017		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2018		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2019		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2020		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2021		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2022		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2023		n/a	n/a
UT New Methodology
	3	UT New Methodology	2002		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2003		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2004		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2005		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2006		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2007		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2008		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2009	60.3%	59.1%	61.5%
	3	UT New Methodology	2010	61.4%	60.3%	62.5%
	3	UT New Methodology	2011	60.6%	59.5%	61.7%
	3	UT New Methodology	2012	59.4%	58.2%	60.5%
	3	UT New Methodology	2013	60.8%	59.7%	61.9%
	3	UT New Methodology	2014	60.9%	59.9%	61.8%
	3	UT New Methodology	2015	61.0%	59.8%	62.1%
	3	UT New Methodology	2016	61.6%	60.3%	62.9%
	3	UT New Methodology	2017	61.9%	60.7%	63.1%
	3	UT New Methodology	2018	63.4%	62.2%	64.6%
	3	UT New Methodology	2019	64.9%	63.7%	65.9%
	3	UT New Methodology	2020	63.8%	62.7%	65.0%
	3	UT New Methodology	2021	65.5%	64.3%	66.7%
	3	UT New Methodology	2022	66.5%	65.3%	67.8%
	3	UT New Methodology	2023	65.8%	64.6%	67.0%
US New Methodology
	4	US New Methodology	2002		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2003		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2004		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2005		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2006		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2007		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2008		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2009		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2010		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2011	63.0%	62.7%	63.3%
	4	US New Methodology	2012	63.3%	63.0%	63.6%
	4	US New Methodology	2013	63.7%	63.4%	64.0%
	4	US New Methodology	2014	64.0%	63.7%	64.3%
	4	US New Methodology	2015	64.4%	64.1%	64.7%
	4	US New Methodology	2016	64.6%	64.3%	64.9%
	4	US New Methodology	2017	65.2%	64.9%	65.5%
	4	US New Methodology	2018	65.9%	65.5%	66.2%
	4	US New Methodology	2019	66.5%	66.2%	66.8%
	4	US New Methodology	2020	66.6%	66.2%	67.0%
	4	US New Methodology	2021	67.4%	67.0%	67.7%
	4	US New Methodology	2022	67.4%	66.8%	68.0%
	4	US New Methodology	2023		n/a	n/a

Data Notes

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.

The U.S./Utah graphs includes estimates using old and new methodologies. In 2011, the BRFSS changed its methodology from a landline only sample and weighting based on post-stratification to a landline/cell phone sample and raking as the weighting methodology. Raking accounts for variables such as income, education, marital status, and home ownership during weighting and has the potential to more accurately reflect the population distribution.

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Data has been updated from 2011 onward in all chart views to reflect this change.

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

Data Sources

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data, US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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.

Other Views

Health Indicator Definition

Definition

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).

Health Objectives and Targets

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.

Current Outlook

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

Health Improvement

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

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