According to a new government study
released Nov. 28th, obesity rates in U.S. women seem to be staying
level, and the rate in men may be hitting a plateau too.
With more than 72 million Americans
counted as obese, adult obesity rates for both sexes seem to be
holding steady at about 34%, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reported.
The adult obesity rate has
generally been climbing since 1980, when
it was 15%. The entire adult population has grown heavier, and the
heaviest have become much heavier in the last 25 years.
The CDC's new
report is based on a comprehensive survey
by the federal government that includes physical examinations.
About 33% of men and 35% of women were obese. The new rates were
slightly higher than the 31% and 33% reported in 2003-2004 surveys.
But, in generalizing the results to the U.S. population, researchers
calculated a margin of error that makes up the differences between
years, so the increases were not considered statistically
significant.
The obesity rate for women has been about steady since 1999-2000, at
around 33%. But the male rate trended up, from 27.5% in 1999-2000.
If there is a trend that comes from this, perhaps it's that women
are having an influence on the eating and exercise habits of men.
Childhood obesity rates for 2005-2006 have not been released yet.
Through 2003-2004, they were rising.
What could be behind the leveling of adult rates?...
Increased exercise is one possibility. Last week, the CDC released
results of a national telephone survey that found about half of men
and women reported getting regular physical activity in 2005, an
increase from the rates reported in 2001. Physical activity prevents
new cases of obesity, but it's not clear that explains the new
findings, CDC officials said.
In addition, experts believe that reducing consumption of
high-calorie and fatty foods is having an impact. Some restaurants
cut back their super-size servings in recent years and that may be
helping.
There were large differences by race for women - the female obesity
rates in the 40 -59 age group were 39% in white women, 51% in
Mexican-American women and 51% in black women. There were no racial
or ethnic disparities in the male obesity rates, the CDC said.
The report also found that about a third of obese adults had not
been told by a doctor or health care provider that they were
overweight. That statistic has held steady from earlier years, said
Cynthia Ogden, a co-author of the report.