In a new report, researchers say that the prevalence of obesity was 42.4% among U.S. adults from 2017 to 2018.
The research was conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Obesity is linked to serious health risks. Severe obesity further increases the risk of obesity-related complications, such as coronary heart disease and end-stage renal disease.
The team used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to describe the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults.
The researchers found that the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 42.4% in adults from 2017 to 2018, with no big differences seen between men and women or by age.
Among men, the prevalence of obesity was 40.3% among those aged 20–39, 46.4% among those aged 40–59, and 42.2% among those aged 60 and over.
Among women, the prevalence of obesity was 39.7% among those aged 20–39, 43.3% among those aged 40–59, and 43.3% among those aged 60 and over.
The age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity was 9.2% in adults and was higher in women than men (11.5% versus 6.9%).
The prevalence was highest among adults aged 40–59 (11.5%), followed by adults aged 20–39 (9.1%) and adults aged 60 and over (5.8%).
Compared with other race and Hispanic-origin groups, non-Hispanic blacks had the highest prevalence of both obesity and severe obesity.
People aged 40 to 59 years had the highest prevalence of severe obesity compared with other age groups (11.5%).
The prevalence of both obesity and severe obesity increased from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018.
The team says monitoring the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity is relevant for public health programs that focus on reducing or preventing obesity and its consequences.
In the United States, the prevalence of obesity among adults has moved further away from the Healthy People 2020 goal of 30.5%.
One author of the study is Craig M. Hales, M.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The study is published here.
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