Community Corner

Hillsborough Residents Getting Fatter, as Obesity Rates Climb Statewide

The percentage of local residents – in particular, women – who are obese has ballooned in a decade. A third of county residents are obese.

By Heather Martino and Linda Hersey

Floridians may want to think twice about squeezing into that Speedo swimsuit or teeny-tiny bikini. 

A third of the residents in the Sunshine State are too fat, and the numbers keep climbing. In a decade, the average obesity rate in Florida has risen from 27 percent to 34 percent.

Hillsborough County is no exception. Obesity rates for men and women in Hillsborough are close to the state average. And they've been on a steady rise since 2001. 

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A greater proportion of women in Hillsborough, in particular, are tipping the scales at an unhealthy weight than a decade ago.

Here's a closer look:

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Florida – average obesity rate for 2011: 34 percent;
  • Hillsborough County – average rate for 2011: 33 percent.
Hillsborough men had an obesity rate of 33.3 percent in 2011, up 7.8 points from 2001.

Hillsborough women had an obesity rate of 35.9 percent in 2011, up 8 points from 2001.

Nationwide, figures show that the sharpest rise in obesity is among women. The county figures on the map were obtained from a recent study from the University of Washington, which found that nationwide women are more obese than their male counterparts.

A public health issue

Obese individuals have a 50-100% increased risk of premature death, and it’s estimated that obesity may be the cause of 300,000 deaths per year according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the CDC, obesity affects more than one-third of adults, or 35.7 percent of the population in the United States. Obesity is calculated by measuring a person’s height and weight, and deriving at a ratio called the body mass index, or BMI. This number often correlates to an individual’s amount of body fat, and is used to ascertain whether a person is considered underweight, a normal weight, overweight or obese.

Interestingly, Americans claim to be exercising more during the same time period that obesity climbed. “Around the country, you can see huge increases in the percentage of people becoming physically active, which research tells us is certain to have health benefits,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray in a press release. Murray added that “If communities in the US can replicate this success and tackle the ongoing obesity impact, it will see more substantial health gains.”



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here