The U.S. Obesity Map

The Neighborhood Map of U.S. Obesity shows the estimated percentage of the adult population that is obese within each 250m grid cell in the United States. Grid cells on the map are colored by the percentage of adults who are estimated to be obese in that area.

The obesity data for the map is surmised from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using the results of the survey it is possible to calculate statistical models that estimate the mean Body Mass Index and shape of the BMI distribution across age, gender, race, Hispanic origin, and educational attainment.

These statistical models have then been used with demographic data to attach a BMI value to every person aged twenty years or over in the United States. It is therefore important to note that the map estimates obesity based on statistical models and the demographics of each grid cell.