Correlation of Inactivity and Obesity in America

 

Bivariate choropleth maps are a powerful tool for visualizing the relationship between two related variables. In this project, I created a map to explore the connection between obesity and physical inactivity across US counties. By classifying each variable into three quantile groups, I developed a 3x3 grid of nine classes that reveal patterns in the data. To do this, I calculated separate classifications for both obesity and physical inactivity, then combined them into a single classification. This approach highlighted regions with high obesity and high inactivity, as well as areas with contrasting trends.

The map design involved choosing a complementary color scheme to clearly differentiate the nine categories while maintaining visual balance. Each color represented a unique combination of the two variables, allowing for easy interpretation of complex relationships. Bivariate choropleth mapping proved to be an effective method for visualizing how obesity and physical inactivity are spatially correlated, in particular with the mauve colored features.