Has America’s Obesity Hit a Plateau?

Well-rounded is a kind way of saying someone is overweight. Corpulent, portly, stout, and porcine will get the point across too, but the best way to describe excess body fat so that everyone understands the implication is "obese."

What exactly is obese? When your defined body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater, you are classified as being obese. Your BMI is calculated using your weight and height.

The U.S. weighs in at a hefty 34 percent of adults (aged 20 and over) being obese. This is a serious health concern because obesity increases the risk of diseases and health problems, some of which may include, but isn't limited to, the following:

• Dyslipidemia (abnormal concentrations of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)
• Stroke
• Respiratory problems (including sleep apnea)
• Some cancers
• Heart Disease

According to a report released in November 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for either men or women there was no significant change between 2003-2004 and 2005-2006; but obesity prevalence for men increased between 1999 and 2006. And overall obesity rates have increased over the past 25 years.

"Since 1999, there appears to have been a leveling off in obesity among women, but the trend is less clear among men. We do know however that the gap between men and women has narrowed in recent years, with men catching up to the higher rates among women," said Cynthia Ogden, a lead author of the study and CDC researcher.

According to the study, over 72 million people-that is more than one-third of U.S. adults-were obese in 2005-2006. The highest obesity prevalence went to adults aged 40-59 as compared to other age groups. In women there was a large race-ethnic disparity where 39 percent of non-Hispanic white women aged 40-59 were obese compared to approximately 51 percent of Mexican-American women and 53 percent of non-Hispanic black women of the same age group. And 32 percent of non-Hispanic white women were obese compared with 61 percent of non-Hispanic black women and 37 percent of Mexican-American women that were 60 and older.

"In view of these alarmingly high rates of obesity in all population groups, CDC has made the prevention of obesity one of its top public health priorities," said Janet Collins, director of CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "We are actively working in partnership with state and local public health agencies, the nation's schools, community organizations, businesses, medical systems, and faith communities to promote and support healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy weight."

In 1999, 14 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years and 13 percent of children aged 6 to 11 years were overweight. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming obese or overweight adults. If one or more parent is obese or overweight, this increases to 80 percent.

With obesity rearing its lethal head in all age groups, the U.S. is facing a serious problem as its population ages and a plateau or lull certainly isn't the answer. A massive government effort to instruct and inform the populace in how to help themselves and their children build a better physical foundation to improve a healthy future is going to be mandatory.