Health Department Releases Report on Obesity in the City of St. Louis

“Data collected and analyzed included height, weight, age, gender, and location,” says Carl Filler, Executive Assistant to the Health Director. “Having current baseline data will allow public health professionals to effectively support healthy activities in the communities that need them the most, as well as effectively measure progress towards reducing obesity in the City of St. Louis.” 

The main findings of the report are: 

• The overall rate for overweight and obesity among residents over age 16 in the City of St. Louis is 61%. The national rate is 65% and Missouri’s rate is 66%. Less than two out of five City residents (38%) are normal weight. 

• Geographic disparities are significant: Almost three quarters (73%) of north city neighborhood residents are overweight/obese compared to only half (51%) of central city neighborhood residents and 59% of south city neighborhood residents. 

• No race/ethnicity information is available on driver licenses, but predominantly African American neighborhoods have an average overweight/obesity rate of 70% and predominantly white neighborhoods have an overweight/obesity rate of 56%. 

• Older residents have higher rates of being overweight and obese. 70% of residents over age 40 are overweight or obese while only 48% of residents under age 40 are overweight or obese. 

• Men are more likely to be overweight or obese than women (63% compared to 59%). 

The Department of Health will continue its work to reduce obesity and obesity-related illnesses through the City’s obesity prevention partnership, the HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Partnership (https://www.facebook.com/HEALPartnership). 

Read the full report and more at the City of St. Louis Department of Health’s website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/documents/city-of-st-louis-obesity-report.cfm 

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