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In the past 10 years, each of Maryland’s counties has seen levels of obesity rise, though the numbers vary, depending on the locations in the state.
From Dorchester and Howard counties (1 percent more obese) to Charles County (11 percent more obese), here’s how Maryland has fared, according to a new study from Infographic, by county:
Dorchester
- 2012 obesity level: 36 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 37 percent;
- Change: 1 percent.
Howard
- 2012 obesity level: 25 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 26 percent;
- Change: 1 percent.
Frederick
- 2012 obesity level: 27 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 29 percent;
- Change: 2 percent.
Carroll
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 31 percent;
- Change: 3 percent.
Prince George’s*
- 2012 obesity level: 34 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 37 percent;
- Change: 3 percent.
Queen Anne's
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 31 percent;
- Change: 3 percent.
Worcester
- 2012 obesity level: 31 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 34 percent;
- Change: 3 percent.
Anne Arundel
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 32 percent;
- Change: 4 percent.
Somerset
- 2012 obesity level: 40 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 44 percent;
- Change: 4 percent.
Wicomico
- 2012 obesity level: 34 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 38 percent;
- Change: 4 percent.
Cecil
- 2012 obesity level: 32 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 37 percent;
- Change: 5 percent.
Garrett
- 2012 obesity level: 30 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 35 percent;
- Change: 5 percent.
Baltimore
- 2012 obesity level: 27 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 33 percent;
- Change: 6 percent.
Harford
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 34 percent;
- Change: 6 percent.
Talbot
- 2012 obesity level: 26 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 32 percent;
- Change: 6 percent.
Caroline
- 2012 obesity level: 33 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 40 percent;
- Change: 7 percent.
Kent
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 35 percent;
- Change: 7 percent.
Montgomery
- 2012 obesity level: 18 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 25 percent;
- Change: 7 percent.
Baltimore City
- 2012 obesity level: 31 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 38 percent;
- Change: 7 percent.
Allegany
- 2012 obesity level: 31 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 39 percent;
- Change: 8 percent.
Calvert
- 2012 obesity level: 28 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 36 percent;
- Change: 8 percent.
St. Mary's
- 2012 obesity level: 29 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 37 percent;
- Change: 8 percent.
Washington
- 2012 obesity level: 30 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 39 percent;
- Change: 9 percent.
Charles
- 2012 obesity level: 33 percent;
- 2022 obesity level: 44 percent;
- Change: 11 percent.
“Statistics show that a sharp increase in obesity rates began in the 1980s, yet public health campaigns since have, it seems, not resulted in reductions in people’s waistlines, officials stated.
“That is, according to a comprehensive study by BarBend.com, the world's leading strength training resource and news outlet, who identified obesity levels over the past 10 years in counties across The Old Line State.”
Nationally, four of the five biggest losers - Shannon (10 percent less obese), Edmunds (5 percent), Hyde (5 percent), and Roberts (5 percent) - were in South Dakota.
Conversely, Texas boasted four of the five counties that saw the largest weight gains in the country in Presidio (20 percent more obese), Hidalgo (18 percent), Starr (18 percent), and Zavala (16 percent).
“The data clearly shows that, despite the warnings from public health officials, our lifestyles are becoming more sedentary and as a nation, we are becoming more obese,” Max Whiteside of BarBend.com said in a statement. “Obesity increases the risk of developing many diseases, and this is a crisis which is trending in the wrong direction.”
The complete study can be found here.
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