How common is obesity?
Most health professionals say that
obesity is an epidemic. In the United States, 30% of
the population are obese, and 65% are overweight or obese. Obesity in the adult
population has doubled since 1980.1
Certain groups are affected more than others:2
- Among women, overweight and obesity are more
prevalent in racial and ethnic minorities than in non-Hispanic white
women.
- Among men, overweight and obesity are more prevalent in
Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites or blacks.
- More
non-Hispanic black women are overweight or obese than non-Hispanic black
men.
- More non-Hispanic white men are overweight or obese than
non-Hispanic white women.
- Women of lower socioeconomic status are
approximately 50% more likely to be obese than those of higher socioeconomic
status.
Citations
-
Flegal MK, et al. (2002). Prevalence and trends in
obesity among U.S. adults, 1999–2000. JAMA, 288(14):
1723–1727.
-
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001).
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. Available online: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity.
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By
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Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator |
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Last Revised
|
April 13, 2011 |
Last Revised:
April 13, 2011
Flegal MK, et al. (2002). Prevalence and trends in
obesity among U.S. adults, 1999–2000. JAMA, 288(14):
1723–1727.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001).
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. Available online: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity.