Obesity in the U.S.
Prevalence and Trends
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Division of Education
Obesity in the U.S.
Current Trends
Currently, about 66% of American adults are overweight and about 32% are obese.
The obesity weight class has increased the most over the past few decades.
Compared with prevalence rates reported in 1976-80, the rates of obesity seen
today are more than double what they were only thirty years ago.
Overweight is Rising
This overweight classification combines those who are classified as
overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and those who are obese (BMI ≥ 30).
68 65.7 66.3
66 64.5
64
62
60 Prevalence of overweight and
58 obesity among U.S. adults 20
56.0 years of age and older
56
54
52
50
1988-94 1999-2000 2001-02 2003-04
Adapted from: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Trends in the United States
Obesity Continues to Rise
Obesity is defined as having a BMI ≥ 30
1996
1991
2004
Prevalence of
obesity by state
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC
Obesity
An estimated 66 million adults in the United States are obese.
Being either overweight or obese substantially raises one’s
risk of morbidity from:
Hypertension
Dyslipidemia
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
Endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers.
Obesity
Introduction
In addition to the increased risk for several diseases, higher body weights are
also associated with increases in all-cause mortality.
An estimated 300,000 deaths per year are attributable to obesity.
As the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States today,
overweight and obesity pose a major public health threat.
Obesity in the U.S.
Socioeconomic Status
A Dutch study found a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity.
In fact, those in the very low SES had the highest rates of obesity
and consumed the most soft drinks, potatoes, fat and meat.
Hulshof KFAM et al. 2003; Zhang and Wang 2004; Johnson-Down et al 1997
Obesity in the U.S.
What is the Cost?
According to a study of national costs
attributed to both overweight and obesity,
medical expenses accounted for 9.1% of the
total U.S. medical expenditures in 1998.
Medical expenses for overweight and obesity may
have reached as high as $78.5 billion in 1998.
In Louisiana alone, approximately $1.4 billion
was spent on overweight and obesity-related
medical expenses.
Obesity
What are the Causes?
Overweight and obesity are the result of an
energy imbalance over a long period of time.
While the whole picture is still unclear on how obesity
develops, it is believed to involve the integration of
social, behavioral, cultural, physiological, metabolic
and genetic factors.
Behavior and environment appear to play a large role
the development of obesity, and are often the focus
for prevention and treatment actions.
Energy Imbalance
What is it?
Energy balance is like a scale where both
sides are of equal weight.
Weight Gain An energy imbalance arises when the number of
calories consumed is not equal to the number of
Calories Consumed > Calories Used
calories used by the body.
Weight Loss Weight gain usually involves the combination of
Calories Consumed < Calories Used consuming too many calories and not expending
enough enough through physical activity, although
weight gain could result from one or the other.
No Weight Change
Calories Consumed = Calories Used
CDC
Obesity
Diet and Exercise
Physical activity contributes to weight loss, especially
when combined with a calorie reduction.
Physical activity is important in preventing overweight and
obesity and in maintaining weight that is lost.
In addition to weight control, physical activity helps:
Prevent heart disease
Control cholesterol levels and diabetes
To slow bone loss associated with advancing age
Lower the risk of certain cancers
Reduce anxiety and depression
In Summary…
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the U.S. is higher than ever before.
BMI & waist circumference are correlated with body fat and can predict the risk for disease.
Being overweight or obese substantially raises one’s risk of morbidity from many diseases.
Significant differences exist in obesity among different racial or ethnic groups.
Diet and physical activity are important in the fight against obesity.
Pennington Biomedical Research
Center
Division of Education
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD, Associate Professor
Shanna Lundy, BS
Additional Resources:
MyPyramid: Food Pyramid. Available at: [Link]
Overweight and Obesity: Contributing Factors. Available at:
[Link]
Calculate your daily calorie needs. Available at:
[Link]
How many calories will your activity burn? Available at:
[Link]
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: [Link]
Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and
obesity in adults. Available at: [Link]
Obesity trends among U.S. adults. Available at:
[Link]
Johnson-Down L, O'Loughlin L, Koski KG, and Gray-Donald K. High Prevalence of
Obesity in Low Income and Multiethnic Schoolchildren: A Diet and Physical Activity
Assessment. The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 127 No. 12 December 1997, pp. 2310-2315.
References
Legal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in obesity
among US adults, 1999-2000 JAMA. 2002;288:1723-1727.
Zhang, Q and Wang Y. Trends in the association between obesity and socioeconomic
status in US Adults: 1971-2000. Obesity Research 12:1622-1632, 2004.
Hulshof KF, Brussaard JH, Kruizinga AG, Telman J, Lowik MR. Socio-economic
status, dietary intake and 10 y trends: the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003 Jan;57(1):128-37.