Obesity continues to be a health concern

The prevalence of obesity (BMI≥30) continues to be a health concern for adults, children and adolescents in the United States. Data from the most recent NHANES survey shows that among adult men the prevalence of obesity was 31.1% in 2003 -2004, and 33.3% in 2005 - 2006, a small but not statistically significant change. Among adult women, the prevalence of obesity in 2003 - 2004 was 33.2%, and in 2005 - 2006 was 35.3%, again a small but not significant change.

Another recent NHANES survey found that obesity prevalence among children and adolescents showed no significant changes between 2003 - 2004 and 2005 - 2006. Based on the study, in the combined years of 2003 - 2006, 16.3% of children and adolescents aged 2 -19 years were obese, at or above the 95th percentile of the 2000 BMI-for-age growth charts.

This rate of obesity raises concern because of its implications for the health of Americans. 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 national health objectives are (1) to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults to less than 15% and (2) to reduce the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents to less than 5%. This site provides a variety of information designed to help people understand the severity of obesity, the efforts being made to address it, and how to maintain a healthy weight.