Childhood Obesity

26% of children in Washtenaw County were overweight or obese in 2017.

Data

The Washtenaw County Health Department compile and analyze the data in order to create community data reports. Each new year of data will allow us to track progress of initiatives aimed at moving all children to a healthier weight.

The Washtenaw County Childhood Overweight and Obesity (2016) data report provides information to identify factors that put local children at risk of being overweight or obese. Detailed BMI category charts identify factors that increase risk of a child being underweight, as well as overweight or obese.

2017 Overweight and Obesity by Zip Code for Children Ages 2 to 17 Years

NEW - Highlights From 2016

  • Good news: Compared to 2013, the overweight and obesity rate in Washtenaw County children decreased in 2016.

    • The rate of overweight and obesity decreased significantly in 5 to 7 year olds.
    • Since 2013, the overweight and obesity rate decreased from for African American 2-4 year olds with Medicaid health insurance.
  • Opportunity to improve: The rate in Hispanic or Latino children increased from 31% in 2013 to 35% in 2016.

Childhood Obesity Community Data Reports

Brief reports for children in several communities in Washtenaw County have been prepared in order to identify populations who are at risk of being overweight or obese at a more local level.

NEW - a focus on obesity in children in Washtenaw County

Reports from previous years can be found here.

Detailed BMI Category Charts

These charts contain more comprehensive information on rates of underweight and healthy weight, as well as overweight and obesity, for children in Washtenaw County.

Background

The Washtenaw childhood obesity surveillance project began in 2013. Through the Health Improvement Plan (HIP) collaborative, Washtenaw County Health Department worked with St. Joseph Mercy Health System and the Michigan Medicine to create the Washtenaw Child BMI Dataset. In the first year, both health systems contributed measured height and weight data from electronic health records for over 18,000 children, ages 2 to 17 years old, living in Washtenaw County. Each year since, the health systems contributed records from over 31,000 children each year, covering nearly 50% of children in Washtenaw County.

Additional Information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an additional valuable resource for information on childhood obesity risk and prevention measures.

For more information about the dataset or the reports, please email Kelly McCarthy, Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist.

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