Obesity Q & A
How is obesity defined for adults & children?
For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined using weight and height to calculate body mass index (BMI), defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.
- An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
- An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
- For more information on BMI and for a printable BMI chart, visit http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.../obesity/bmi_tbl.htm
Among children and adolescents, overweight and obesity are defined using sex-specific BMI for age growth charts.
- Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile.
- Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.
- For more information on BMI-for-age growth charts and to download growth charts, please visit www.cdc.gov/.../growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm.
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Where can I find tools and programs to help fight obesity?
- The CHAMPION Obesity Prevention Plan provides tools and programs to decrease or eliminate obesity, focusing on health promotion.
- The CHAMPION Obesity Prevention Plan identifies recommendations for action for communities and promotes effective interventions targeting behavioral, environmental and policy change strategies.
- To download a copy of the Plan, visit www.vahealth.org/WIC/Champion/championplan.htm
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Obesity by Region
Obesity by District
What is the prevalence of adult obesity in Virginia?
According to Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) prevalence data, 61.9 percent of adult Virginians are overweight or obese.
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What is the prevalence of childhood obesity in Virginia?
According to data based on the November 2008 enrollment in the Virginia WIC program, 16 percent of children ages 2-5 who participate in the program are overweight and 12 percent are “at risk” for overweight.
In Virginia, highlights from the 2003 survey of 4th grade students indicate that 28 percent of participants were overweight and an additional 17 percent were found “at risk” for being overweight.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s analysis of a 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health found that 30 percent of Virginia’s 10 to 17 year olds were overweight or obese, just below the national average of 31 percent.
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Have a question not answered above?
Ask an Expert!
We are always glad to take any questions you have about the CHAMPION program. Some questions may even appear on this page for everyone to benefit.
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