Tennessee State Obesity Data, Rates and Trends - The State of Obesity Page 1 of 6

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The State of Obesity in

Tennessee
Tennessee has the sixth highest adult obesity rate in the nation,
according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier
America released August 2017. Tennessee's adult obesity rate is
currently 34.8 percent, up from 20.9 percent in 2000 and from 11.1
percent in 1990. This state profile includes data on adult obesity,
childhood obesity, and obesity-related health issues in Tennessee. New
this year, it also highlights policy actions Tennessee is taking to prevent
and reduce obesity. According to the most recent data, adult obesity
rates now exceed 35 percent in five states, 30 percent in 25 states and
25 percent in 46 states. View adult obesity rates for all states

Adult Obesity in Tennessee New Data

Current adult obesity rate (2016) Obesity rate by age (2016)

34.8% 18-25

26-44
22.5%

38.0%

Rank among states (2016) 45-64 40.0%

6
65+ 28.6%

/51

Obesity rate by race (2016)

Adult obesity rate in Tennessee (1990-2016)

White 31.3%
40%

35% Black 45.1%

30%
Latino 33.0%
25%

20%

15%
Obesity rate by gender (2012)

10% Men 30.5%

5%
Women 32.0%
0%

'90 '94 '98 '02 '06 '10 '14

Source: Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The State of Obesity 2017 [PDF]. Washington, D.C.: 2017.

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Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Tennessee New Data

2- to 4-year-old WIC participants 10- to 17-year-olds* High school students

Current obesity rate (2014) Combined overweight & obesity rate (2016) Current obesity rate (2015)

14.9% 37.7% 18.6%

Rank among states (2014) Rank among states (2016) Rank among states (2015)

19 /51 1 /51 2 /43

Historical rates (2000-2014) Historical rates (2004-2016) Historical rates (1999-2015)

25% 50% 25%

20% 40% 20%

15% 30% 15%

10% 20% 10%

5% 10% 5%

0% 0% 0%

'00 '04 '08 '12 '04 '07 '11 '16 '99 '03 '07 '11 '15

Source: stateofobesity.org/wic Source: stateofobesity.org/children1017 Source: stateofobesity.org/high-school-obesity

* Represents the combined rates of overweight and obese 10-17 year-olds

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Obesity-Related Health Issues in Tennessee New Data

Diabetes Hypertension
Current adult diabetes rate (2016) Current adult hypertension rate (2015)

12.7% 38.5%
Rank among states (2016) Rank among states (2015)

7 /51 7 /51

Diabetes cases in 2010 Hypertension cases in 2010

594,871 1,299,689
Projected cases of diabetes in 2030 at current pace Projected cases of hypertension in 2030 at current pace

939,564 1,714,690
Historical adult diabetes rates (1990-2016) Historical adult hypertension rates (1990-2015)
25% 50%

20% 40%

15% 30%

10% 20%

5% 10%

0% 0%

'90 '94 '98 '02 '06 '10 '14 '90 '94 '98 '02 '06 '11 '15

Heart Disease Arthritis Obesity-Related Cancer

Heart disease cases in 2010 Arthritis cases in 2010 Obesity-related cancer cases in 2010

396,752 1,289,571 101,301

Projected cases of heart disease in 2030 Projected cases of arthritis in 2030 Projected cases of cancer in 2030

1,896,993 1,117,321 260,360

Sources: Current diabetes (2016) and hypertension (2015) rates are from The State of Obesity 2017 [PDF]; 2010 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis and obesity-related cancer numbers and
projected cases of obesity-related health problems related are from F as in Fat 2012 [PDF].

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State Policies to Prevent Obesity

Early Childhood U.S. Tennessee

Breastfeeding
State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to allow or encourage onsite breastfeeding 22 + D.C.

Defined Physical Activity

State has set a definition for physical activity in ECE settings 9 + D.C.

Drinking Water
State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to make drinking water available to children 43

Healthy Eating
State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to have healthy eating policies 50 + D.C.

Link to CACFP Updates

State has licensing laws linked to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) standards that automatically update 23 + D.C.

Nutrition Standards
State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to provide meals and snacks that meet dietary guidelines 26 + D.C.

Physical Activity
State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to have time for daily physical activity 50 + D.C.

Private Breastfeeding Space

State has regulations requiring licensed ECE programs to have a private space available for mothers to breastfeed 4 + D.C.
infants

Screen Time
State sets limits for screen time in ECE settings, or has regulations requiring ECE centers to set limits. 29 + D.C.

Schools U.S. Tennessee

Elementary School Physical Education

State requires elementary school students to participate in physical education 38 + D.C.

High School Physical Education

State requires high school students to participate in physical education 42 + D.C.

Middle School Physical Education

State requires middle school students to participate in physical education 36 + D.C.

PE Time Requirement, Elementary Schools

State requires elementary school students to participate in a minimum amount of time of physical education 18 + D.C.

PE Time Requirement, High Schools

State requires high school students to participate in a minimum amount of time of physical education 6

PE Time Requirement, Middle Schools

State requires middle school students to participate in a minimum amount of time of physical education 14 + D.C.

Recess
State requires recess in elementary schools 5

Safe Routes to Schools

State has statutes or regulations on Safe Routes to School 16

Shared Use of Facilities 36 + D.C.

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State has policy for communities to access school recreational facilities outside school hours.

Community Eligibility Provision

Percentage of eligible schools in the state adopting the community eligibility provision 77.3%

Farm-to-School Programs
Percentage of school districts in the state participating in farm-to-school activities 51%

School Nutrition Standards

Percentage of school food authorities in state meeting updated meal nutrition standards 99.9%

Community U.S. Tennessee

Complete Streets
State has adopted a complete streets policy 33 + D.C.

Healthy Food Financing Initiative Grants

State awarded Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) grants, from 2011 to 2016 30

Preemption
State has laws preempting local policies related to nutrition 9

Child Food Insecurity Rate

Percentage of children in state that are food insecure 21.1%

Overall Food Insecurity Rate

Percentage of the state population that is food insecure 15.4%

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Percentage of state residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 17.0%

https://stateofobesity.org/states/tn/ 11/2/2017