Announcements: Interactive Atlases of Diabetes, Obesity, and Physical Inactivity Available Online

Announcements: Interactive Atlases of Diabetes, Obesity, and Physical Inactivity Available Online

Weekly

November 16, 2012 / 61(45);927

Diabetes, of which 90%–95% of all cases are type 2, is becoming more common in the United States, driven in part by the increasing prevalence of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as obesity and physical inactivity (1). However, among adults at risk, lifestyle changes such as losing weight and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes (2).
CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation has released the Diabetes Interactive Atlases (http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/atlas), interactive Internet tools for the public to view data and trends of diagnosed diabetes (both prevalence and incidence), obesity, and leisure-time physical inactivity at the national, state, and county levels. Users will be able to access 1) state and county-level data in the United States, 2) data on how counties compare with each other, and 3) maps and motion charts to examine how changes in diabetes coincide with changes in obesity over time and by location. The Diabetes Interactive Atlases build awareness about the burden of diabetes, obesity, and leisure-time physical inactivity in the United States and can help the public to better use existing resources for diabetes management and prevention efforts.

References

1. Geiss LS, Cowie C. Type 2 diabetes and persons at high risk of diabetes. In: Venkat Narayan KM, Williams D, Gregg EW, Cowie C, eds. Diabetes public health: from data to policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2011:15–32.
2. Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med 2002;346:393–403.