Obesity prevalence

Obesity or excess adiposity was relatively rare in earlier centuries. Indeed, an ample belly was often seen as a sign of affluence and prosperity. In the last two decades, however, adult obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and other developed countries. This is strikingly evident from data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which estimates obesity rates by state. Data from 1990 indicate that all states had obesity rates (BMI > 30 kg/m2 or 30 lb overweight) of less than 15%. By contrast, in 2002, every state had an obesity prevalence rate of at least 15%-19% 29 states had rates of 20%-24% and the rates in three states were over 25%. Graphic representation of these data, updated annually, is available at... 

Trasande L, Attina TM, Blustein, J. (Sep 19, 2012). Association between urinary bisphenol A concentration and obesity prevalence in children and adolescents. JAMA 308(11), 1113-1121. 

Zuckerman KE, Hill AP, Guion K, Voltolina L, Fombonne E. Overweight and obesity prevalence and correlates in a large clinical sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. / Autism Dev Disord. 2014 [Epub ahead of print]. 

The obesity prevalence is growing in the workforce of the industrialized countries. Obesity has more than doubled since 1980 and, currently, more than 1.4 billion adults have overweight (WHO, 2012). Nevertheless, obesity is associated with psychological, social and physical problems, which can negatively affect the productivity. Subjects with overweight are absent from work due to illness for longer periods and more often than non-obese subjects, being this absenteeism frequently related to WMSD (Tier et al., 2009). 

The selection of blood pressure cuff size based on a patient s arm circumference is crucial for the accurate measurement of blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure tend to increase when the cuff size is too small relative to the patient s arm circumference. This circumstance is important due to the increasing prevalence of obesity in developed nations. Currently, the guidelines of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Blood Pressure Measurement in Humans recommends cuff sizes for small, standard, and large adults with an optimal 2 1 ratio of cuff length/width based on arm circumference.18... 

The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase, keeping this disease a major public health concern. Results from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reflect an increased combined prevalence for overweight and obesity among adults... 

The prevalence of obesity in older adults is increasing therefore, it should not be surprising that more cardiovascular risk factors are present in this group of individuals. Additionally, obesity is a major predictor of functional limitation and mobility problems in older persons. Age alone should not prejudice the clinician from treating geriatric patients, whereas the benefits of cardiovascular health and functionality should be considered. Treatments should be initiated that minimize adverse effects on bone health and nutritional status and should include dietary and activity modifications.6... 

Prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents United States, 1999-2002. National Center for Health Statistics, December 2004 available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/ p ubd/hestats/obese/obse99. 

Dahmen, N., Bierbrauer, J. 8r Kasten, M. (2001). Increased prevalence of obesity in narcoleptic patients and relatives. Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 251, 85-9. 

It is estimated that 50% of adults in the United States are overweight, with approximately half of those falling into the obese category. The prevalence of obesity in adults has increased approximately 60% in the United States between the years 1991 and 2001. (Figure 1.2)3... 

With the high prevalence and steady increase in overweight and obesity in the United States comes a steady increase in the use of various diet supplements, including both nonprescription and prescription diet pills. 

Despite the alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity in the world, epidemiologic studies on the relation between fruit and vegetable consumption and weight gain... 

There is no doubt that the eating patterns and physical activity of the adult have a direct effect on the prevalence of nontransmittable chronic illnesses. In recent decades, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, among others, has steadily increased, making these diseases the priority for health care systems in many countries, especially in developed countries. 

The prevalence and severity of OA increase with age. Potential risk factors include obesity, repetitive use through work or leisure activities, joint trauma, and heredity. 

Obesity increases steadily with age in the under 60s. However, obesity is affecting younger people more than ever before. In the USA, there was an increase in prevalence of overweight (at or above the 95th percentile of sex-specific BMI for age growth charts) in female children and adolescents from 13.8% in 1999-2000 to 16.0% in 2003-2004 and an increase in male children and adolescents from 14.0% to 18.2% in the same time period. Similarly, in the UK, although the figures are lower, the prevalence of obesity in 5-10 year... 

As the prevalence of obesity increases worldwide, so does the prevalence of associated co-morbidities type-2 diabetes, chronic obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease (hyper-tension, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, stroke and peripheral vascular disease), fatty liver disease, various malignancies (Table 7.2), gallstones, subfertility, musculo-skeletal problems and depression. 

And while the data on coronary artery disease are sobering, in many ways they merely represent the tip of the iceberg when considering the prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease (Fig. 1.6). Obesity and diabetes are approaching epidemic proportions (Fig. 1.7). Seven out of every ten American adults are considered overweight (BMI > 25) and three out of ten are obese (BMI > 30) [7]. The prevalence of obesity has increased 75%... 

Fig. 1.7 Prevalence of obesity in the US by age groups. Adapted from references [11-15]...

Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, et al. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, IQin.JAMA 2003 289 76-9. 

Probability of developing gallstones increases with age, obesity, and a high fat diet and is more prevalent in fair-skinned people of European descent, suggesting a genetic component. 

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