Too Many California Adults Are Tipping the Scales at an Unhealthy Weight

This policy brief highlights the geographic variations in obesity and overweight rates among California adults for counties, county-groups, Los Angeles Service Planning Areas, as well as for state legislative and Congressional districts. The first of-its-kind sub-county data are useful for policy makers, advocates, and health professionals in understanding the severity of unhealthy weight among adults throughout California and within local communities. Obesity rates were estimated by applying a small-area methodology to multiple data sources, including the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2003), 2000-2002 Current Population Surveys, and the 2000 Census. This study was conducted with funding from The California Endowment.

Publication Authors:

• Carolyn A. Mendez-Luck, PhD, MPH
• Hongjian Yu, Ph.D.
• Ying-Ying Meng, DrPH
• Mona Jhawar
• Steven P. Wallace, PhD