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Overall US obesity prevalence steady during 12-year period
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has not changed significantly in 12 years, according to two studies from the CDC — one in adults and the other in children. However, researchers demonstrate that there have been increases in certain demographics, including men and non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American women.
“Obesity prevalence shows little change over the past 12 years, although the data are consistent with the possibility of slight increases,” the researchers wrote. “In 2009-2010, the prevalence of obesity was 35.5% among adult men and 35.8% among adult women, with no significant change compared with 2003-2008.”
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Researchers used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2009-2010 to examine obesity prevalence in 5,926 adult men and women, and they compared those results with previous NHANES data for 22,847 men and women from 1999 to 2010. They also examined trends in the distribution of BMI in the overall population.
The age-adjusted mean BMI was 28.7 (95% CI, 28.3-29.1) for men and also 28.7 (95% CI, 28.4-29) for women in 2009-2010. The median age-adjusted BMI was 27.8 for men and 27.3 for women. Age-adjusted obesity prevalence was similar among men and women: 35.7% (95% CI, 31.9-39.2) and 35.8% (95% CI, 34-37.7).
There was no significant increase in obesity among women overall from 1999-2010 (OR=1.01; 95% CI, 1-1.03). However, there were statistically significant increases for non-Hispanic black women (P=.04) and Mexican-American women (P=.046).
During the 12-year period, there was a significant linear trend among men (OR=1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06), according to the researchers.
Obesity prevalence in the most recent 2 years (2009-2010) did not differ significantly for both men and women (P=.08 for men and P=.24 for women) vs. the previous 6 years (2003-2008).
The same researchers conducted a similar study of obesity prevalence in US children and adolescents: Data from a representative sample of 4,111 people aged 0 to 19 years from NHANES 2009-2010 were analyzed.
The primary outcome measures included the prevalence of high weight-for-recumbent length among infants and toddlers from birth to 2 years and obesity among children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years. During the same 12-year period used in the adult study (1999-2010), researchers analyzed obesity trends by sex and race/ethnicity, and BMI within sex-specific age groups.
In the most recent time period (2009-2010), 9.7% (95% CI, 7.6-12.3) of infants and toddlers had a high weight-for-recumbent length and 16.9% (95% CI, 15.4-18.4) of children and adolescents were obese, according to the researchers.
Obesity prevalence did not differ among males (P=.62) or females (P=.65) between the time periods of 2007-2008 and 2009-2010. During the 12-year period, however, trend analyses demonstrated a significant increase in obesity prevalence between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 in male children and adolescents (OR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10). This was not true in females (OR=1.02; 95% CI, 0.98-1.07).
Additionally, there was a significant increase in BMI among adolescent males aged 12 to 19 years (P=.04), but not among any other age group or females, the researchers reported.
“Many efforts, both at the national level and at state and local levels, focus on reducing childhood obesity,” the researchers wrote. “Yet, results from NHANES indicate that the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States remains unchanged at approximately 17%; although increases in obesity prevalence may be occurring among males. Some have suggested that the prevalence of obesity among children will reach 30% by 2030, but the data presented herein suggest that the rapid increases in obesity prevalence seen in the 1980s and 1990s have not continued in this decade and may be leveling off.”
According to the researchers, more research is needed to understand these changes and the reasons why they may be occurring.
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