Fact: Obesity, Diabetes Rates at 10-Year High

Obesity, Diabetes Rates at 10-Year High: America's health card received a poor grade last week after the 2009 National Health Interview Survey revealed U.S. obesity and diabetes rates are at a 10-year all-time high. The results, released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, is based on interviews with 88,129 people and more than 10 years of data collection for such conditions. In 2009, 28% of U.S. adults aged 20 years and over were obese, which was not significantly different from the 2008 estimate of 27.6%. The annual prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults aged 20 years and over has generally increased over time from 19.4% in 1997 to 28.0% in 2009. The highest obesity rate was found among adults ages 40 to 59 years. Diabetes rates among U.S. adults also rose to 9% in 2009, from 5.1% in 1997. Diabetes also was more prevalent among older adults than younger adults, the survey results showed. Click here to read the full report.