| 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Arkansas County | 46% |
| Ashley County | 42% |
| Baxter County | 36% |
| Benton County | 36% |
| Boone County | 38% |
| Bradley County | 43% |
| Carroll County | 42% |
| Chicot County | 46% |
| Clark County | 41% |
| Clay County | 49% |
| Cleburne County | 38% |
| Cleveland County | 41% |
| Columbia County | 40% |
| Conway County | 44% |
| Craighead County | 40% |
| Crawford County | 38% |
| Crittenden County | 43% |
| Cross County | 45% |
| Dallas County | 38% |
| Desha County | 45% |
| Drew County | 42% |
| Faulkner County | 37% |
| Franklin County | 45% |
| Fulton County | 37% |
| Garland County | 37% |
| Grant County | 36% |
| Greene County | 42% |
| Hempstead County | 43% |
| Hot Spring County | 38% |
| Howard County | 44% |
| Independence County | 41% |
| Izard County | 41% |
| Jackson County | 44% |
| Jefferson County | 43% |
| Johnson County | 43% |
| Lafayette County | 43% |
| Lawrence County | 44% |
| Lee County | 44% |
| Lincoln County | 46% |
| Little River County | 41% |
| Logan County | 41% |
| Lonoke County | 39% |
| Madison County | 33% |
| Marion County | 40% |
| Miller County | 41% |
| Mississippi County | 43% |
| Monroe County | 50% |
| Montgomery County | 40% |
| Nevada County | 42% |
| Newton County | 35% |
| Ouachita County | 43% |
| Perry County | 43% |
| Phillips County | 44% |
| Pike County | 36% |
| Poinsett County | 46% |
| Polk County | 38% |
| Pope County | 41% |
| Prairie County | 52% |
| Pulaski County | 38% |
| Randolph County | 41% |
| St. Francis County | 39% |
| Saline County | 32% |
| Scott County | 49% |
| Searcy County | 42% |
| Sebastian County | 46% |
| Sevier County | 44% |
| Sharp County | 47% |
| Union County | 40% |
| Van Buren County | 36% |
| Washington County | 40% |
| White County | 38% |
| Yell County | 46% |
What does this measure?
The percentage of students who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is at or above the 85th percentile for their age and gender. The index is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. Children are considered overweight if their BMI is at or above the 85th percentile for their age and gender, and they are considered obese at or above the 95th percentile.
Why is this important?
Overweight children are at greater risk for many health problems, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, breathing problems, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and bone and joint problems. Overweight children and adolescents are also more likely to face social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem and to be overweight as adults.
How is Arkansas doing?
In 2020, 40% of students were overweight or obese, similar to 2019. The rate was similar for males and females, but varied across racial and ethnic groups: highest for Hispanic students at 51%, 43% for African American students, 37% for white students and 28% for Asian students. No national data was available for this indicator.
Within Arkansas, rates were highest in Monroe (50%) and Prairie counties (52%), and lowest in Saline County (32%).
Notes about the data
Data is from a sample of students in grades K, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 in all public schools in Arkansas.
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 39% | 39% | 39% | 40% |
| Female | Male | |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 40% | 40% |
| INDICATORS | TREND | STATE |
|---|---|
| Infant Mortality | Maintaining |
| Early Prenatal Care | Increasing |
| Overweight or Obese Students | Increasing |
| Student Drug Usage | Decreasing |
| Overweight or Obese Adults | Increasing |
| Physically Inactive Adults | Maintaining |
| Smoking Rate | Decreasing |
| Flouridated Water | Increasing |
| Insurance Coverage Rates | Increasing |
| Oral Health | Increasing |
| Life Expectancy | Decreasing |
| Routine Check-ups | Increasing |
EDUCATION
HEALTH
FAMILIES
COMMUNITY
DEMOGRAPHICS
RACIAL EQUITY
