Obesity Rates in St. Charles County, State Grow Since 2004

Obesity rates in St. Charles County and across Missouri have climbed from about 25 percent to 30 percent of the population between 2004 and 2013. 

In 2013, 30 percent of St. Charles County's population had a body mass index of more than 30. That's a little less than the state's 31 percent obesity rate in 2013, according to the County Health Rankings, a national study compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

Missouri was ranked 39 in the country for obesity in 2012, according to America's Health Rankings. Colorado was first and had the lowest rate of obesity, while Mississippi was last with the highest rate of obesity.

Despite the increasing rates of obesity, St. Charles County ranked first in the state for all health factors for the fourth consecutive year. 

The study looked at both health outcomes, mortality and morbidity, and health factors such as smoking rates, excessive drinking, access to clinical care, physical environment and socioeconomic factors.

“Earning this distinction as one of Missouri’s healthiest counties for the fourth year in a row is a tremendous recognition for the importance that St. Charles County residents and our medical community place on healthy lifestyles,” said Hope Woodson, interim director for the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment in a press release. “Beginning with a healthy and active community allows our staff to be proactive in dealing with potential risks and in educating residents on ways in which they can improve their quality of life.” 

In St. Charles County, many of the factors remained flat year-over-year with the percent of adults smoking holding steady at 17 percent, obesity at 30 percent and physical inactivity at 25 percent.

Between 2012 and 2013, the percent of residents reporting excessive drinking in St. Charles County rose from 24 percent to 25 percent of the population. The high school graduation dropped from 92 percent to 85 percent. 

The unemployment rate dropped from 8.7 percent to 7.3 percent. The percent of St. Charles restaurants that are fast food restaurants dropped from 50 percent to 49 percent. 

See the national health comparisons here. 

See the Missouri county health comparisons here.

CHR Health Outcome