21% of adults in Travis County are obese

We have adequate nutrition and achieve and maintain optimal physical and behavioral health.

Indicator: % of adults in Travis County who are obese

Significance of Indicator: Adults who are obese or overweight are at a higher risk for coronary disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer according to the National Institutes of Health. Obesity has more than doubled over the past two decades in Texas. The Texas Comptroller reports that obesity cost Texas businesses $9.5 billion in 2009.

what the data tell us

In 2009, 21% of adults in Travis County were obese. This was significantly lower than the obesity rates for the State (28%) and the Nation (27%) in 2009.

Definition: Adults ages 18 and up who have a body mass index of 30 or more.

Data Source: Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Data Considerations: The BRFSS samples only adults who live in households with telephone landlines. Households without a landline are, on average, younger and/or have lower incomes. As a result, this data likely understates the actual obesity rates in our community. Three year data aggregates are used for Travis County and the State due to small sample sizes. Data was aggregated by the Austin Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

The Story Behind the indicator

Obesity rates are disproportionately high among adults who report lower incomes and among youths who are males, African Americans, and/or Hispanics. Obesity rates can be affected by encouraging people to make healthy food choices. There are some people in our community who may not have the option of making healthy food choices because their access to such foods is limited. They may have limited transportation and/or live in an area with no grocery stores or farmers markets. Also, healthy foods are often more costly than foods high in calories. People with low-incomes may rely on cheaper foods that are higher in fat to meet their families' hunger needs. Incorporating physical activity into peoples' daily lifestyles is also key to reducing obesity. People may become discouraged from daily physical activity if they do not have access to safe walkways and parks. To learn more about the story behind obesity in our community, click here.

Some local efforts to improve this indicator

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department recently received a $300,000 planning grant from the State Health Department to encourage people to make healthy food choices and to make physical activity a regular part of their day.
Children's Optimal Health (COH) is a collective leadership initiative to ensure that every child in Central Texas becomes a healthy, productive adult engaged in his or her community. COH recently released maps showing concentrations of childhood obesity in our community.

A Closer look at the story behind the indicators

Over time, obesity rates have generally been higher for people earning less than $25,000 a year. Obesity rates varied by income in the Austin region in 2009: 37% of people with incomes lower than $25,000, 41% of people with incomes between $25,000 and $49,999, and 24% of people with incomes of $50,000 or more. More analysis is needed to determine why there was a sudden increase in the obesity rate for persons earning between $25,000 and $49,999 a year.

% of Adults in the Austin-Round Rock MSA who are Obese by Income

Definition: Adults ages 18 and up who have a body mass index of 30 or more by income

Data Source: Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Data Considerations: The BRFSS samples only adults who live in households with telephone landlines. Households without a landline are, on average, younger and/or have lower incomes. As a result, this data likely understates the actual obesity rates in our community. Small sample sizes for MSA level data may contribute to fluctuations in local obesity trends.

The percentage of children at an unhealthy weight during the 2007-2008 school year was lower for Travis County than all other comparison regions with the exception of Williamson County. The Cooper Institute reports, in general, elementary school children were the most fit and that fitness levels declined with each passing grade level.

Definition: Public school students in grades 3-12 who were overweight according to a body mass index measurement that was adjusted for age and gender

Data Source: The Cooper Institute

Data Considerations: The data only includes public school students. The data results were adjusted to remove the influence of a school's social economic status, minority status and size.

% of Students in Grades 3-12 who are Overweight or Obese

This map shows that there are certain places in Austin where there are higher concentrations of Austin ISD middle school students who are overweight or obese. The Dove Springs and Quail Creek/St. John neighborhood have particularly high concentrations of overweight and obese middle school students.

Are there areas where many Overweight and Obese AISD Middle School students live?

Definition: Austin Independent School District students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade with an overweight or obese body mass index by geographic concentration in Austin

Data Source: Map was produced by Children's Optimal Health. Data was provided by the Austin Independent School District, Central Health, InfoUSA, and the City of Austin.

Data Considerations: The Austin Independent School District area is indicated by the white unshaded area of the map. Eighty-five percent of Austin ISD middle school students are represented in the data on this graph. This map shows that there are certain places in Austin where there are higher concentrations of Austin ISD middle school students who are overweight or obese. The Dove Springs and Quail Creek/St. John neighborhood have particularly high concentrations of overweight and obese middle school students.

Children's Optimal Health produced five observations about the Dove Springs neighborhood and the middle school students that live there: 1) there appear to be very few food outlets located close to where families live, 2) there are only few food establishments in the Dove Springs area that supply both fresh meat and fresh fruits and vegetables, 3) there appears to be a large amount of green space in the area but not all of it may be accessible for recreational use and appropriate for children to play in, 4) a higher proportion of students are affected by a high Body Mass Index than poor cardiovascular fitness, and 5) Mendez, which is the neighborhood middle school for many of the students living in this area, decreased the percentage of students who failed the cardiovascular portion of their fitness test test by 14%.

Definition: Austin Independent School District students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade with an overweight or obese body mass index by geographic concentration in the Dove Springs neighborhood

Data Source: Map was produced by Children's Optimal Health. Data was provided by the Austin Independent School District, Central Health, InfoUSA, and the City of Austin.

Data Considerations: Eighty-five percent of Austin ISD middle school students were tested in fitness measures. The percentage of students who were tested may vary by neighborhood.

What areas of Austin have a high proportion of AISD Middle School students who are overweight or obese? Dove Springs

Children's Optimal Health produced four observations about the Quail Creek and St. John neighborhood and the middle school students that live there: 1) there are high concentrations of fast food establishments and convenience stores in this area, 2) there are multiple opportunities to access healthy food options are in this area, however many negative influences (i.e. fast food and convenience stores) saturate the areas where people live, 3) there are large portions of this neighborhood where over 50% of the students are either overweight or obese, and 4) Burnet, Dobie, and Lamar Middle Schools all recently saw a significant decrease in the percentage of students who failed the cardi-ovascular portion of their yearly fitness test.

What areas of Austin have a high proportion of AISD Middle School students who are overweight or obese? Quail Creek and St. John

Definition: Austin Independent School District students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade with an overweight or obese body mass index by geographic concentration in the Quail Creek and St. John neighborhood

Data Source:Map was produced by Children's Optimal Health. Data was provided by the Austin Independent School District, Central Health, InfoUSA, and the City of Austin.

Data Considerations: Eighty-five percent of Austin ISD middle school students were tested in fitness measures. The percentage of students who were tested may vary by neighborhood.