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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.138750v1 99/2/308    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Houle, B. Articles by Reyes, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Houle, B. Articles by Reyes, M. Related Collections Epidemiology Obesity, Overweight, Underweight Geography Socioeconomic Factors

Brian Houle, MPH, James Holt, PhD, MPA, Cathleen Gillespie, MS, David S. Freedman, PhD and Michele Reyes, PhD

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, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Brian Houle, MPH, Department of Sociology, University of Washington, 223D Condon Hall, Box 353340, 1100 NE Campus Pkwy, Seattle, WA 98195-3340 (e-mail: bhoule{at}u.washington.edu).

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.