Not all counties are weighted equally. In fact, Clayton is the most obese county in Georgia, according to HealthGrove, a health data analysis site that looked at information from the Health Indicators Warehouse for the study.
About 38 percent of Clayton County residents are obese, according to the information analyzed. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher, and it can increase the incidence of health-related conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
In comparison, Claiborne County in Mississippi had the highest incidence of obesity at 46.6%.
This echoes the findings of another study conducted by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It also ranked Clayton County as having the highest incidence of obesity in the state, with about 40% of residents being classified as obese.
Income is often linked to obesity, but not always in expected ways. Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American men with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with lower incomes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The reverse is true among higher income women, however.
Want to learn more about the study? Click here for the full report.
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