Communities Count updates adult smoking and obesity data.

Communities Count has recently updated its adult smoking and obesity indicators.

CIGARETTE SMOKING

From 2000 to 2017, the smoking rate among King County adults dropped almost in half – from 21% in 2000-2002 to 11% in 2015-17.  Although disparities by race, place, and sexual orientation persisted, smoking continued to decline in most groups.   

OBESITY

After rising from an average rate of 16% in 2000-2002 to 22% in 2008-10, obesity among King County adults held steady at 22% through 2017. The plateau was not evident in all demographic subgroups, however. In South and East Regions, the percentage of adult who were obese continued to rise over the 17-year period.  Throughout that period, adults in East Region rates were significantly less likely to be obese than those in South region.  Trends among some race/ethnicity groups followed a similar pattern: for Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians, adult obesity rates continued an upward trend throughout the 17-year period, although Asians had the lowest rates in all years.

INCOME GRADIENT

Among adults with annual income below $15,000, both obesity and smoking rates were greater than 25%.  Conversely, among adults with income greater than $75,000 a year, fewer than 1 in 5 smoked cigarettes or were obese, although the protective effect of higher income was greater for smoking than obesity (only 6% in the highest income group were smokers, while 19% were obese).