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Dr Katherine Flegal and colleagues from the USA examined trends in obesity from 1999 through 2008 and the current prevalence of obesity and overweight for 2007 to 2008.
The team assessed height and weight measurements from 5,555 adult men and women aged 20 years or older obtained in 2007-2008 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of the US population.
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey obtained in 2007-2008 were compared with results obtained from 1999 through 2006.
The team estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults.
Overweight was defined as a body mass index of 25 to 30.
 | | Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 34% overall | | Journal of American Medical Association |
Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 or higher.
The researchers found in 2007-2008 that the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 34% overall.
The research team found that the prevalence of obesity was 32% among men, and 36% among women.
The corresponding prevalence estimates for overweight and obesity combined were 68% overall, 72% for men, and 64% for women.
Obesity prevalence varied by age group and by racial and ethnic group for both men and women.
The researchers found that over the 10-year period, obesity showed no significant trend among women.
For men, there was a significant linear trend.
However, the 3 most recent data points did not differ significantly from each other.
Dr Flegal's team concluded, “In 2007-2008, the prevalence of obesity was 32% among adult men and 36% among adult women.”
“The increases in the prevalence of obesity previously observed do not appear to be continuing at the same rate over the past 10 years, particularly for women and possibly for men.”
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