Oldest Americans Falling Behind in Americas Rush to
Become Obese
New numbers show percent in US that are obese has
moved up by 2 percentage points
July 17, 2008 New obesity figures show the
percentage of overweight Americans continues to expand but senior
citizens at least those 70 and older do not seem to be keeping up
with younger adults, especially those between age 60 and 69. An
estimated 25.6 percent of U.S. adults reported being obese in 2007
compared to 23.9 percent in 2005, an increase of 1.7 percent, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prevalence of obesity among adults aged 60 and older vs
all adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance, U.S.
1995, 2000, 2005, 2007
1995
2000
2005
2007
60-69
19.4
22.9
28.1
29.9
70+
12.2
15.5
18.3
19.4
All Adults
15.3
19.8
23.9
25.6
The oldest in the
U.S. - those age 70 and older - are the least likely adults to
be obese and the percentage of this age group that is obese is
not growing as fast as in younger age groups. It is interesting
that those age 60 through 69, however, are among the most likely
to be obese.
The graph above
shows the change in percentage of obese in these two groups of
older Americans - age 60-69 and 70 and older - versus all
adults.
Prevalence of obesity among adults
aged 18 and older, by age group - Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance, U.S. 1995, 2000, 2005, 2007
Age
Group
1995
2000
2005
2007
18-29
10.2
13.5
17.7
19.1
30-39
14.3
20.2
24.4
26.5
40-49
17.9
22.9
26.5
27.8
50-59
21.6
25.6
29.5
30.9
60-69
19.4
22.9
28.1
29.9
70+
12.2
15.5
18.3
19.4
All Adults
15.3
19.8
23.9
25.6
The news in today′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR) also finds that none of the 50 states or the District of
Columbia has achieved the Healthy People 2010 goal to reduce obesity
prevalence to 15 percent or less.
In three states Alabama, Mississippi, and
Tennessee the prevalence of self-reported obesity among adults age 18
or older was above 30 percent. Colorado had the lowest obesity
prevalence at 18.7 percent.
Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30
or above. BMI is calculated using height and weight. For example, a
5-foot, 9-inch adult who weighs 203 pounds would have a BMI of 30, thus
putting this person into the obese category.
The data were derived from CDC′s Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey that collects
information from adults aged 18 years and older. For this survey more
than 350,000 adults are interviewed each year, making BRFSS the largest
telephone health survey in the world. BMI was calculated based on this
self-reported information.
The epidemic of adult obesity continues to rise in
the United States indicating that we need to step up our efforts at the
national, state and local levels, said Dr. William Dietz, director of
CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. We need to
encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables, engage in more
physical activity and reduce the consumption of high calorie foods and
sugar sweetened beverages in order to maintain a healthy weight.
The study found that obesity is more prominent in
the South, where 27 percent of respondents were classified as obese. The
percentage of obese adults was 25.3 in the Midwest, 23.3 percent in the
Northeast, and 22.1 percent in the West.
By age, the prevalence of obesity ranged from 19.1
percent for men and women aged 19-29 years to 31.7 and 30.2 percent,
respectively, for men and women aged 50-59 years.
Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of
chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
These diseases can be very costly for states and the country as a
whole, said Deb Galuska, associate director for science for CDC′s
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity.
To learn more about CDC′s efforts in the fight
against obesity or for more information about nutrition, physical
activity, and maintaining a healthy weight, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa.
New 2007 Report
Prevalence of obesity among adults
aged 18 and older, by age group and sex Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance U.S.
2007
