Use of Density-Equalizing Cartograms to Visualize Trends and Disparities in State-Specific Prevalence of Obesity

1996–2006

Bibliographic Data

ID11033741
AuthorsBrian Houle (0000-0003-2157-3118, At the time of the study, Brian Houle was with the Division of Health Communications and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. James Holt is with the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Cathleen Gillespie, David S. Freedman, and Michele Reyes are with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity,...), James Holt (0000-0001-6411-9236, At the time of the study, Brian Houle was with the Division of Health Communications and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. James Holt is with the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Cathleen Gillespie, David S. Freedman, and Michele Reyes are with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity,...), James B Holt (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion), Cathleen Gillespie (0000-0003-1878-1055, At the time of the study, Brian Houle was with the Division of Health Communications and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. James Holt is with the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Cathleen Gillespie, David S. Freedman, and Michele Reyes are with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity,...), David S Freedman (0000-0001-8014-0289, At the time of the study, Brian Houle was with the Division of Health Communications and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. James Holt is with the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Cathleen Gillespie, David S. Freedman, and Michele Reyes are with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity,...), Michele Reyes (At the time of the study, Brian Houle was with the Division of Health Communications and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. James Holt is with the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Cathleen Gillespie, David S. Freedman, and Michele Reyes are with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity,...)
Year2009
Volume99
Issue2
Pages308-312
Publication date2009-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2008.138750
PMID19059848
PMCIDPMC2622788
OpenAlexW2108127779
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited27

Objectives. We used cartograms to visually communicate the state-specific prevalence of obesity and its association with socioeconomic variables over time to benefit and inform decisions by national health policymakers who address geographic and social inequities in health. Methods. We generated density-equalizing maps, known as cartograms (in which geographic regions are sized in proportion to some variable), that illustrate indicators of population and educational attainment. We also provide an innovative presentation of the obesity choropleth map (which presents values for areas by shading). Results. The maps depict the absolute burden of obesity, the inverse association between obesity and education, and geographic patterns in the prevalence of obesity over time. Conclusions. The prevalence of obesity in the United States continues to increase. These cartograms can help stakeholders interpret surveillance data and their relation to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics to inform decisions

Association (psychology) · Economic growth · Educational attainment · Environmental health · Geography · Location · Obesity · Population · Public health · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology