For adults, overweight has historically be defined by a weight greater than 10% above the mean for a select height and weight, whereas obesity was defined as a weight greater than 20% of the mean for the same height. Today, height and weight values are still used for the diagnosis of overweight and obesity but they are also defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) values. The relevance of the terms is not related to vanity but rather that they both identify body sizes which increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems leading to premature death. Significant concern related to the size of Americans is valid for everyone as the health costs of an obese person are substantially higher than a normal weight person and obesity-related diabetes represents the most costly disease to the healthcare system.
The statistical data defined below is based on BMI diagnosis of overweight and obesity. BMI is used because it offers easy methodology and for most people it correlates well with their amount of body fat. Overly muscular individuals cannot use BMI for accurate health risk determination as muscle mass reduces accuracy. However, keep in mind that overly muscular individuals represent a very, very small percentage of the population.
- An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
- An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
Over the past four decades the National Center for Health statistics has been tracking America’s obesity problem and have noted a linear trend. Since the 1960’s humans have increased in size by 0.65 lbs per year. If this trend continues the average weight in America two hundred years from now will be over 200 lbs.
Reason for Concern….
- 63% of Americans are overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) in excess of 25.0.
- 31% are obese with a BMI in excess of 30.0. (Only 13% were obese in 1962)
- Childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled in the past two decades.
- According to the U.S. Surgeon General report obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year.
- 3.8 million Americans carry over 300 pounds
- The average adult woman weighs in at 163 lbs.
- Obesity is most prevalent in Hispanic and African American women
- 400,000 Americans (mostly men) fall into a super-massive 400+ pound category
IHRSA/American Sports Data, Inc.
| 2007 State Obesity Rates | |||||||
| State | % | State | % | State | % | State | % |
| Alabama | 30.3 | Illinois | 24.9 | Montana | 21.8 | Rhode Island | 21.4 |
| Alaska | 27.5 | Indiana | 26.8 | Nebraska | 26.0 | South Carolina | 28.4 |
| Arizona | 25.4 | Iowa | 26.9 | Nevada | 24.1 | South Dakota | 26.2 |
| Arkansas | 28.7 | Kansas | 26.9 | New Hampshire | 24.4 | Tennessee | 30.1 |
| California | 22.6 | Kentucky | 27.4 | New Jersey | 23.5 | Texas | 28.1 |
| Colorado | 18.7 | Louisiana | 29.8 | New Mexico | 24.0 | Utah | 21.8 |
| Connecticut | 21.2 | Maine | 24.8 | New York | 25.0 | Vermont | 21.3 |
| Delaware | 27.4 | Maryland | 25.4 | North Carolina | 28.0 | Virginia | 24.3 |
| Washington DC | 21.8 | Massachusetts | 21.3 | North Dakota | 26.5 | Washington | 25.3 |
| Florida | 23.6 | Michigan | 27.7 | Ohio | 27.5 | West Virginia | 29.5 |
| Georgia | 28.2 | Minnesota | 25.6 | Oklahoma | 28.1 | Wisconsin | 24.7 |
| Hawaii | 21.4 | Mississippi | 32.0 | Oregon | 25.5 | Wyoming | 23.7 |
| Idaho | 24.5 | Missouri | 27.5 | Pennsylvania | 27.1 | ||
Published by the CDC
Data from NHANES I (1971–1974) to NHANES 2003–2006 show increases in overweight among all age groups:
| Prevalence of Obesity* Among U.S. Children and Adolescents (Aged 2–19 Years) | ||||||
| Survey Periods | ||||||
| NHANES II 1976–1980 | NHANES III 1988–1994 | NHANES 1999–2002 | NHANES 2003–2006 | |||
| Ages 2 through 5 | 5% | 7.2% | 10.3% | 12.4% | ||
| Ages 6 through 11 | 6.5% | 11.3% | 15.8% | 17.0% | ||
| Ages 12 through 19 | 5% | 10.5% | 16.1% | 17.6% | ||
- *Sex-and age-specific BMI ≥ 95th percentile based on the CDC growth charts
- Sources:
- Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among U.S. children and adolescents, 1999–2000. JAMA 2002;288:1728–1732.
- Hedley AA, Ogden CL, Johnson CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US children, adolescents, and adults, 1999–2002. JAMA 2004;291:2847–2850.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Flegal KM. High Body Mass Index for Age Among US Children and Adolescents, 2003–2006. JAMA 2008;299:2401–2405.
Published by the CDC
