Obesity among Georgian adults during pre- and post- COVID-19 pandemic: A national and regional comparison
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of deaths in the United States. This study aimed to compare the trend in obesity in Georgia with that at the national and regional level during pre- and post- COVID-19 periods.
Methods: We used data from the last twelve waves (2011 to 2022) of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to estimate the obesity prevalence in adult (age 18+ years) population. We estimated the prevalence rates for the whole U.S., south-eastern region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia), and Georgia. We compared the trend for Georgia with those of the U.S. and south-eastern region during pre- (i.e., 2011 to 2019) and post- (i.e., 2020 to 2022) COVID-19 period. We further plan to assess whether the trend differed by age-groups, sex, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) conditions manifested by educational attainment and household income.
Results: Obesity prevalence in the U.S. has been on the rise since 2011. The national prevalence increased from 27.43% in 2011 to 31.35% in 2019. In 2022, it further increased to 33.31%. In Georgia, the trend was very similar during the pre-pandemic period as prevalence increased from 27.99% in 2011 to 33.09% in 2019. However, in 2022, the prevalence in Georgia increased to 37.03%, showing a sharp surge in the prevalence rate. The increase from 2019 to 2022 was 1.96 percentage points (pp), 2.53 pp, and 3.94 pp in the U.S., southeastern region, and Georgia, respectively.
Conclusions: Our initial analyses show a significant increase in obesity among Georgian adults during post COVID-19 period, compared to the national and southeast regional averages.
Keywords
obesity, Georgia, COVID-19
Obesity among Georgian adults during pre- and post- COVID-19 pandemic: A national and regional comparison
Background: Obesity is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of deaths in the United States. This study aimed to compare the trend in obesity in Georgia with that at the national and regional level during pre- and post- COVID-19 periods.
Methods: We used data from the last twelve waves (2011 to 2022) of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to estimate the obesity prevalence in adult (age 18+ years) population. We estimated the prevalence rates for the whole U.S., south-eastern region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia), and Georgia. We compared the trend for Georgia with those of the U.S. and south-eastern region during pre- (i.e., 2011 to 2019) and post- (i.e., 2020 to 2022) COVID-19 period. We further plan to assess whether the trend differed by age-groups, sex, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) conditions manifested by educational attainment and household income.
Results: Obesity prevalence in the U.S. has been on the rise since 2011. The national prevalence increased from 27.43% in 2011 to 31.35% in 2019. In 2022, it further increased to 33.31%. In Georgia, the trend was very similar during the pre-pandemic period as prevalence increased from 27.99% in 2011 to 33.09% in 2019. However, in 2022, the prevalence in Georgia increased to 37.03%, showing a sharp surge in the prevalence rate. The increase from 2019 to 2022 was 1.96 percentage points (pp), 2.53 pp, and 3.94 pp in the U.S., southeastern region, and Georgia, respectively.
Conclusions: Our initial analyses show a significant increase in obesity among Georgian adults during post COVID-19 period, compared to the national and southeast regional averages.
