Obesity
Rates Continue to Rise in US, As Does Diabetes
Findings
from two studies by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
indicate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the US
continues to increase.
The findings portend
burgeoning rates of medical complications such as heart disease and
stroke, Dr. Cynthia L. Ogden, lead author of one of the reports, told
Reuters Health.
In a study of nearly
5000 US children, Dr. Ogden's team found that more than 15% of 6- to
19-year-olds were overweight in 1999-2000, compared with about 11% in
1998-1994.
The prevalence of
overweight rose to 10% from about 7% among children 2 to 5 years of
age. Hardest hit were black and Mexican-American adolescents, in whom
the rate of overweight increased more than 10%.
A similar trend was
observed in a second study involving more than 4000 US adults.
Overall, 31% of people in 1999-2000 were obese, compared with 23% in
1998-1994.
Rates of overweight rose
to nearly 65% of adults from 56%, while rates of extreme obesity
increased to nearly 5% from 3%. Black women and people with lower
educational levels were more likely to be morbidly obese, according to
the report.
While weight gain was
noted in all age, gender, and ethnic groups, obesity and overweight
rates were highest among non-Hispanic black women. Half of black
women, 40 years and older, were obese and more than 80% were
overweight, according to the report by Dr. Katherine M. Flegal and
colleagues, from the CDC.
The authors cite several
factors that may be to blame for rising rates of overweight and
obesity. For one, physical activity has declined with technological
advances, such as computers and television. Dining in restaurants,
where portions are large, and the fear of crime in some neighborhoods,
which keeps people housebound, may also be to blame.
"Obesity is a
complex health issue and underlying factors such as our lifestyles,
the environment in which we live, and genetics play a role," Dr.
Ogden said.
Regardless of the
reasons, the increasing rates of overweight and obesity among children
and adults point to higher rates of chronic disorders such as heart
disease, diabetes, stroke, certain cancers, arthritis, and a host of
other medical conditions that are life-threatening and expensive to
treat.
Of particular concern is
the potential surge in the rate of type 2 diabetes, especially among
minorities. Blacks and Hispanics are more apt to be overweight and
impaired glucose tolerance is common among children who are very
obese, the researchers explain.
"The increase in
the prevalence of obesity is clear. The potential health benefits from
reduction in overweight and obesity are a matter of considerable
public health importance," Dr. Flegal and colleagues conclude. JAMA
2002;288:1723-1732,1772-1773.
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