Report of increased obesity rates in 1999

[Kuester, Sarah]

Please pardon the cross-posting.

Hello.  Below is a press release from CDC about
a JAMA letter to the editor reporting an increase 
in obesity rates in the United States in 1999.

Thank you,
Sarah Kuester
Public Health Nutritionist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
sak2 at cdc.gov 
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Press Release

Embargoed 4:00 p.m. (CT), Tuesday, October 3, 2000
	

October 2, 2000
Contact: Tim Hensley
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488-5820
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Obesity Continues Climb in 1999 Among American Adults

	The prevalence of obesity in the United States 
continued to grow in 1999, representing a serious 
public health threat to millions of Americans, according 
to a CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 
letter to the editor published in the October 4, 2000 
issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

	Obesity rose 6 percent nationally between 1998 and 
1999, and the increase affected all regions and demographic 
groups and most states in the United States.  Obesity is 
defined as having a body mass index of 30 or higher.  
A BMI of 30 in most cases means an individual is about 
30 pounds overweight.  Since 1991, obesity among adults 
has increased by nearly 60 percent nationally.  
					
	"The continuing epidemic of obesity is a critical public 
health problem,"  said Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "As a nation, 
we need to respond as vigorously to this epidemic as we 
do to an infectious disease epidemic." Dr. Koplan said that 
national efforts were needed to encourage physical activity 
and better nutrition and conduct research to identify effective 
educational, behavioral, and environmental approaches to 
control and prevent obesity.

	Certain subgroups had increases in obesity that 
exceeded the national rate. For example, individuals 
30-39 years of age had a 10 percent increase in obesity 
between 1998 and 1999.  A recent study by CDC found 
that diabetes in this same age group increased by 70 
percent in the 1990s.  In addition, between 1998 and 
1999, the researchers found a 10 percent increase in 
obesity among individuals with some college education, 
compared to a 6 percent increase among those with a 
high school education.				

	"As obesity rates continue to grow at epidemic 
proportions in this country, the net effect will be 
dramatic increases in related chronic health conditions 
such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the future," 
said Dr. Koplan.  CDC recently reported that diabetes 
increased by 33 percent among adults during the 1990s, 
which reflects the surge in the obesity epidemic during 
that same period.
	
	Between 1998 and 1999, among racial/ethnic populations, 
the largest increase was found among whites, who had a 7 
percent increase in obesity. 

	These data are self-reported prevalence of obesity derived 
from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS),  
a standardized telephone survey conducted by state health 
agencies in collaboration with CDC.    In 1999, a total of nearly 
150,000 individuals from all states completed the BRFSS survey.

	Overweight and physical inactivity account for more than 
300,000 premature deaths each year in the U.S., second 
only to tobacco-related deaths.

	In order to control the obesity epidemic CDC suggests 
several approaches:  health care providers must counsel 
their obese patients; workplaces should offer healthy food 
choices in their cafeterias and provide opportunities for 
employees to be physically active on site; schools should 
offer more physical education that encourages lifelong 
physical activity; urban policymakers should provide more 
sidewalks, bike paths, and other alternatives to cars; and 
parents should  reduce their children's TV and computer 
time and encourage outdoor play.  In addition to proper 
nutrition, it is important to restore physical activity to daily 
routines to promote health.  Just 30 minutes each day of 
moderate physical activity improves health.

	To obtain electronic copies of the maps and tables 
on the 1999 obesity information, please call the press 
contacts listed above.  For more information about nutrition 
and physical activity, call toll-free 1-888-CDC-4NRG or visit 
the CDC's nutrition and physical activity website at .

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