Obesity Epidemic Increases Dramatically in the United States

A growing obesity epidemic is threatening the health of millions of Americans in the United States, according to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) research published in the October 27, 1999, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to the findings, the obesity epidemic spread rapidly during the 1990s across all states, regions, and demographic groups in the United States. Obesity (defined as being over 30% above ideal body weight) in the population increased from 12% in 1991 to 17.9% in 1998. The highest increase occurred among the youngest ages (18- to 29-year-olds), people with some college education, and people of Hispanic ethnicity. By region, the largest increases were seen in the South, with a 67% increase in the number of obese people. Georgia had the largest increase – 101%. The findings also show that a major contributor to obesity – physical inactivity – has not changed substantially between 1991 and 1998.

"Overweight and physical inactivity account for more than 300,000 premature deaths each year in the United States, second only to tobacco-related deaths. Obesity is an epidemic and should be taken as seriously as any infectious disease epidemic," says Jeffrey P. Koplan, director of the CDC, and one of the authors of the JAMA article. "Obesity and overweight are linked to the nation's number one killer – heart disease – as well as diabetes and other chronic conditions."

A national effort is needed to control the epidemic, according to Koplan.

"While obese individuals need to reduce their caloric intake and increase their physical activity, many others must play a role to help these individuals and to prevent a further increase in obesity," Koplan says. "Health care providers must counsel their obese patients; workplaces must offer healthy food choices in their cafeterias and provide opportunities for employees to be physically active on-site; schools must offer more physical education that encourages lifelong physical activity; urban policymakers must provide more sidewalks, bike paths, and other alternatives to cars; and parents need to reduce their children's TV and computer time and encourage outdoor play. In general, restoring physical activity to our daily routines is critical."


According to surveys conducted in 1977-1978 and 1994-1996, reported daily caloric intakes increased from 2239 kcal to 2455 kcal (calories) in men and from 1534 kcal to 1646 kcal in women. Eating more frequently is encouraged by numerous environmental changes: a greater variety of foods, some with higher caloric content, the growth of the fast-food industry, the increased numbers and marketing of snack foods, increased time for socializing, and a growing tendency to socialize with food and drink.

At the same time, there are fewer opportunities in daily life to burn calories: children watch more television daily; many schools have done away with or cut back on physical education; many neighborhoods lack sidewalks for safe walking; the workplace has become increasingly automated; household chores are assisted by labor-saving machinery; and walking and cycling have been replaced by automobile travel for all but the shortest distances.

According to Koplan, the American lifestyle of convenience and inactivity has had a devastating toll on every segment of society, particularly on children. Research shows that 60% of overweight 5- to 10-year-old children already have at least one risk factor for heart disease, including hyperlipidemia and elevated blood pressure or insulin levels.

According to CDC research published in the October 13, 1999, issue of JAMA, more than two-thirds of American adults are trying to lose weight or keep from gaining weight, but many do not follow guidelines recommending a combination of fewer calories and more physical activity. The 1996 Surgeon General's report, Physical Activity and Health shows that more than 60% of adults are not participating in the recommended 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity most days of the week. The report stresses that physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.