Wellness

Overweight & Obesity

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DROP IN THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT  

A sedentary lifestyle and obesity are risk factors for many health problems and premature death. Children need a nutritious diet to support healthy growth and development. Proper nutrition, which includes limited consumption of sugary drinks, can help reduce the risk of developing obesity and other chronic diseases later in life.[1] This indicator measures the weight status of adults and children as well as the number of sugary drinks consumed by children.  

TREND

In 2023, 68.7% of adults in San Bernardino County were either overweight (32.4%) or obese (36.3%). This is higher than the California average, where 61.8% of adults were either overweight (32.6%) or obese (29.2%). In 2022, 71.2% of adults in San Bernardino County were considered overweight or obese, compared to 62.3% of adults in California.  

MORE THAN 2-IN-3 ADULTS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE
Percentage of Adults Overweight or Obese in San Bernardino County and California, 2014-2023

Source: University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy Research, California Health Interview Survey (www.chis.ucla.edu) 

There has been a decline of eight percentage points in the proportion of San Bernardino County children under 18 years of age who are overweight, from 26.9% in 2021 to 18.7% in 2023. However, children under 18 years of age in San Bernardino County are more likely to be overweight for their age than in California overall (18.7% and 14.4%, respectively). 

ALMOST 1-IN-5 CHILDREN MAY BE OVERWEIGHT FOR THEIR AGE
Percentage of Children Considered Overweight for their Age in San Bernardino County and California, 2021-2023

Note: This measure only factors in age and weight, not height. Data prior to 2021 are considered unstable and thus not included. 
Source: University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy Research, California Health Interview Survey (www.chis.ucla.edu) 

In the California Health Interview Survey, parents are asked if their child drank one or more sugary drinks (other than soda) the day prior to being surveyed. A higher proportion of San Bernardino County children drank one sugary drink the day prior than in California as a whole (33.0% and 30.1%, respectively). Similarly, more children in San Bernardino County drank two or more sugary drinks the day prior than the California average (20.1% and 17.9%, respectively).  

MORE THAN HALF OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CHILDREN HAVE AT LEAST ONE SUGARY DRINK IN A DAY
Percentage of Children who Drank Sugary Drinks (Other Than Soda) the Day Prior to Being Surveyed in San Bernardino County and California, 2022

Note: The year 2022 was the last year this question was asked by the data source. The question was asked of parents of children ages 2 through 17. Parents were asked how many glasses or cans of sweetened fruit drinks, sports, or energy drinks their child drank. 
Source: University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy Research, California Health Interview Survey (www.chis.ucla.edu) 

[1] Muth ND, Dietz WH, Magge SN, et al. AAP American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP Section on Obesity, AAP Committee on Nutrition, AAP American Heart Association. Public Policies to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190282