A: Eating out more than ever before andrestaurants, fast food, and fine dining establishments alike, are serving muchheftier portions of food than they did in the past. We also eat more betweenmeals and consume more sugary sodas and fruit drinks. Advertising also plays apart- who can resist the juicy double- cheeseburger that looks so appetizing onTV, or the two-for-one specials advertised at our local pizza parlor? DonÕtforget about the going to the gym- no one seems to have the time.
Genetics alsoseem to be playing a part in determining our weight. Despite all of thesereasons, it seems that many Americans are simply eating more and exercisingless.
Q: Why should we avoid diets?
A: Dr. Zebrack cites several reasons to avoidthem. Diets are difficult to maintain, lack basic nutritional requirements suchas fiber, iron, and calcium. These types of diets arenÕt supported by anynational health organizations. ÒWe donÕt know the long-term effects of extremediets,Ó Dr. Zebrack emphasizes, Òand we need to look toward life-long, healthydietary changes, not a quick fix.Ó ÒWeight loss from drugs alone without othermeasures will typically be less than 5% of body weight, so dietary changes,physical activity and behavior modifications are necessary to reach weight lossgoals. Also, patients typically regain the weight when the drug is stopped.Ó
Q: How many adults are obese?
A: Nearly one-third are obese (BMI>30)[8]
All adults (20+years old): 61.3 million (30.5 percent)
Women (20+ yearsold) 34.7 million (33.4 percent)
Men (20+ yearsold): 26.6 million (27.5 percent)
Q: How many adults are at a healthy weight?
A: Less than half of the US adults have ahealthy weight (BMI>18.5 to < 25)[9]
All adults (20-74years old): 67.3 million (33.5 percent)
Women (20-74years old): 36.7 million (35.3 percent)
Men (20-74 yearsold): 30.6 million (31.8 percent)
Q: How has the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults changed over the years?
A: The prevalence has steadily increasedover the years among genders, all ages, al racial/ethnic groups, alleducational levels, and all smoking levels. By 2000, every state exceptColorado had obesity rates of 15 percent or more, and 22 states had obesityrates of 20 percent or more. The prevalence of overweight and obesity generallyincreases with advancing age, and then starts to decline among people over 60.[3]
Q: What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity in minorities?
A: The age-adjusted prevalence of combinedoverweight and obesity (BMI>25) in racial/ethnic minorities-especiallyminority women-is generally higher than in whites in the United States. [8]
Non-Hispanic Black women: 77.3%
Mexican American women: 71.9%
Non-Hispanic White women; 57.3%
Non-Hispanic Black men: 60.7%
Mexican American men: 74.7%
Non-Hispanic White men: 67.4%
***The prevalenceof overweight (BMI>25) and obesity (BMI>30) in Asian Americans is lowerthan in the population as a whole. [1]
Q: What is the cost of overweight and obesity?
A: Total cost: $117 billion, Direct cost:$61billion, *Indirect cost $56 billion
Q: How physically active is the U.S. population?
A: Less than one-third 31.8 percent of U.S.adults get regular leisure time physical activity (defined as light or moderateactivity five times or more per week for 30 minutes or more each time and/orvigorous activity three times or more per week for 20 minutes or more eachtime). About 10 percent of adults do no physical activity at all in theirleisure time.[27]
Q: What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents?
A: There is no generally accepted definitionfor obesity as distinct from overweight children and adolescents, theprevalence of overweight* is increasing for children and adolescents in theUnited States. Approximately 15.3 percent of children (ages 6-11) and 15.5percent of adolescents (ages12-19) were overweight in 2000.
Q: How physically active is the U.S. population?
A: About 25 percent of young people 9 (ages12-21 years) participate in light to moderate activity (e.g., walking,bicycling0nearly every day. About 50 percent regularly engage in vigorousphysical activity. Approximately 25 percent report no vigorous physicalactivity, and 14 percent report no vigorous physical activity, and 14 percentreport no recent vigorous or light to moderate physical activity. [28]