The American Medical Association in 2013 declared obesity a chronic disease, defined by the CDC as “conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.”
According to the 500 cities data (CDC), 38.9% of Trenton residents aged 18 or older were considered obese in 2016. The obesity prevalence is 7-10% higher in different parts of Trenton.
Key Facts
- The 2016 obesity rate for adults in Trenton was 38.9% compared with 29.6% for Mercer County.
- Childhood obesity in Trenton (30.5% in 2015) is among the highest in NJ cities.
- Many factors leading to chronic diseases are more common and more severe in minority communities such as Trenton.
- The obesity prevalence is 7-10% higher in different parts of Trenton. Given that national rates are increasing annually, the current rate in Trenton is more than likely higher.
Related Data
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The tables below illustrate the difference in obesity prevalence among races in the United States and New Jersey. Note that African Americans and Latinos experience more obesity than others.
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Replicated from CDC National Center for Health Statistics data brief. Adults: age 20 and over. Youth: age 2 -19 Obesity is defined in this table as: a BMI of greater than or equal to 30. Obesity in youth was defined as a BMI of greater than or equal to the age- and sex-specific 95th percentile of the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. CDC (2016)
 NJDOH. (2020). Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics
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Adults Who Are Obese
This indicator shows the percentage of adults aged 18 and older who are obese according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight and dividing it by their height squared in metric units (BMI = Weight (Kg)/[Height (m) ^ 2]). A BMI >=30 is considered obese.
Data Source: CDC - PLACES
Mercer County Age Adjusted Adult Obesity Prevalence (Age 20+) from the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data (2019)