Obesity Trends

The occurance of obesity continues to be a health concern in the United States for many adults, children and adolescents. Data from a recent survey shows that among adult men the prevalence of obesity was just over 31% in 2003—2004, and higher than 33% in 2005—2006. This increase represents a small but not statistically significant change. The prevalence of obesity among adult women in 2003—2004 was above 33%, and in 2005—2006 was just higher than 35%. This again represents a small but not significant change.

Another recent survey found that obesity among children and adolescents showed no significant changes between 2003—2004 and 2005—2006. The study showed that in the combined years of 2003—2006 just over 16% of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years were obese. That means that they were at or above the 95th percentile of the 2000 BMI-for-age growth charts.

This rate of obesity is concerning to many because of its implications for the health of Americans. It is fact that obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions.

These include:

*Coronary heart disease

*Type 2 diabetes

*Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

*Hypertension (high blood pressure)

*Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

*Stroke

*Liver and Gallbladder disease

*Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

*Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)

*Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

Two of the Healthy People 2010 United States national health objectives are:

To reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults to less than 15%.

To reduce the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents to less than 5%.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Preventing Obesity with Good Nutrition and Physical Activity

Unhealthy diet and the lack of physical activity can contribute to or aggravate many chronic diseases and conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and even some cancers.

During the past 20 years or so, obesity rates among adults have risen substantially in the United States. The 2005–2006, data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows us that 34% of over 72 million U.S. adults 20 years of age and older suffer from obesity.

In 2005, few adults met the Healthy People 2010 objectives for fruit and vegetable consumption with only 33% eating fruit two or more times each day and even fewer (27%) eating vegetables three or more times each day.

Despite the proven benefits that physical activity offers, less than half of American adults in 2007 engaged in enough physical activity to provide the needed health benefits.

More than a quarter of children born in 2004 were never breastfed.

The percentage of young people who suffer from obesity has almost tripled since 1980. During the 2003–2006 time frame, 16.3% of children and adolescents between the ages of 2–19 had a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age and sex on the CDC growth charts.

Over one third (34%) of adolescents in grades 9–12 had a non diet soft drink at least one time per day during the previous 7 day period.

A full 65% of young people in grades 9–12 did not get the recommended amount of physical activity in 2007 with 35% of them watching 3 or more hours of television on the average school day.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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