ContextThe prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents and obesity in adults in the United States has increased over several decades.ObjectiveTo provide current estimates of the prevalence and trends of overweight in children and adolescents and obesity in adults.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsAnalysis of height and weight measurements from 3958 children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years and 4431 adults aged 20 years or older obtained in 2003-2004 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative sample of the US population. Data from the NHANES obtained in 1999-2000 and in 2001-2002 were compared with data from 2003-2004.Main Outcome MeasuresEstimates of the prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents and obesity in adults. Overweight among children and adolescents was defined as at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific body mass index (BMI) for age growth charts. Obesity among adults was defined as a BMI of 30 or higher; extreme obesity was defined as a BMI of 40 or higher.ResultsIn 2003-2004, 17.1% of US children and adolescents were overweight and 32.2% of adults were obese. Tests for trend were significant for male and female children and adolescents, indicating an increase in the prevalence of overweight in female children and adolescents from 13.8% in 1999-2000 to 16.0% in 2003-2004 and an increase in the prevalence of overweight in male children and adolescents from 14.0% to 18.2%. Among men, the prevalence of obesity increased significantly between 1999-2000 (27.5%) and 2003-2004 (31.1%). Among women, no significant increase in obesity was observed between 1999-2000 (33.4%) and 2003-2004 (33.2%). The prevalence of extreme obesity (body mass index ≥40) in 2003-2004 was 2.8% in men and 6.9% in women. In 2003-2004, significant differences in obesity prevalence remained by race/ethnicity and by age. Approximately 30% of non-Hispanic white adults were obese as were 45.0% of non-Hispanic black adults and 36.8% of Mexican Americans. Among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 28.5% were obese while 36.8% of adults aged 40 to 59 years and 31.0% of those aged 60 years or older were obese in 2003-2004.ConclusionsThe prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents and obesity among men increased significantly during the 6-year period from 1999 to 2004; among women, no overall increases in the prevalence of obesity were observed. These estimates were based on a 6-year period and suggest that the increases in body weight are continuing in men and in children and adolescents while they may be leveling off in women.

/pdf/prevalence-of-overweight-and-obesity-in-the-united-states-3e2vt9vqld.pdf

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004

Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Abundant data link hypercholesterolaemia to atherogenesis. However, only recently have we appreciated that inflammatory mechanisms couple dyslipidaemia to atheroma formation. Leukocyte recruitment and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines characterize early atherogenesis, and malfunction of inflammatory mediators mutes atheroma formation in mice. Moreover, inflammatory pathways promote thrombosis, a late and dreaded complication of atherosclerosis responsible for myocardial infarctions and most strokes. The new appreciation of the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis provides a mechanistic framework for understanding the clinical benefits of lipid-lowering therapies. Identifying the triggers for inflammation and unravelling the details of inflammatory pathways may eventually furnish new therapeutic targets.

Inflammation in atherosclerosis

Results In 2007-2008, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 33.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.6%-36.0%) overall, 32.2% (95% CI, 29.5%-35.0%) among men, and 35.5% (95% CI, 33.2%-37.7%) among women. The corresponding prevalence estimates for overweight and obesity combined (BMI 25) were 68.0% (95% CI, 66.3%-69.8%), 72.3% (95% CI, 70.4%-74.1%), and 64.1% (95% CI, 61.3%66.9%). Obesity prevalence varied by age group and by racial and ethnic group for both men and women. Over the 10-year period, obesity showed no significant trend among women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for 2007-2008 vs 1999-2000, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.89-1.32]). For men, there was a significant linear trend (AOR for 2007-2008 vs 1999-2000, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.12-1.58]); however, the 3 most recent data points did not differ significantly from each other.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/185235/joc90148_235_241.pdf

Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008.

Importance More than one-third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States are obese, although the prevalence remained stable between 2003-2004 and 2009-2010. Objective To provide the most recent national estimates of childhood obesity, analyze trends in childhood obesity between 2003 and 2012, and provide detailed obesity trend analyses among adults. Design, Setting, and Participants Weight and height or recumbent length were measured in 9120 participants in the 2011-2012 nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Main Outcomes and Measures In infants and toddlers from birth to 2 years, high weight for recumbent length was defined as weight for length at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts. In children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific CDC BMI-for-age growth charts. In adults, obesity was defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. Analyses of trends in high weight for recumbent length or obesity prevalence were conducted overall and separately by age across 5 periods (2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012). Results In 2011-2012, 8.1% (95% CI, 5.8%-11.1%) of infants and toddlers had high weight for recumbent length, and 16.9% (95% CI, 14.9%-19.2%) of 2- to 19-year-olds and 34.9% (95% CI, 32.0%-37.9%) of adults (age-adjusted) aged 20 years or older were obese. Overall, there was no significant change from 2003-2004 through 2011-2012 in high weight for recumbent length among infants and toddlers, obesity in 2- to 19-year-olds, or obesity in adults. Tests for an interaction between survey period and age found an interaction in children ( P  = .03) and women ( P  = .02). There was a significant decrease in obesity among 2- to 5-year-old children (from 13.9% to 8.4%; P  = .03) and a significant increase in obesity among women aged 60 years and older (from 31.5% to 38.1%; P  = .006). Conclusions and Relevance Overall, there have been no significant changes in obesity prevalence in youth or adults between 2003-2004 and 2011-2012. Obesity prevalence remains high and thus it is important to continue surveillance.

/pdf/prevalence-of-childhood-and-adult-obesity-in-the-united-1gon174hws.pdf

Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012.

Objectives This report provides detailed information on how the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts for the United States were developed, expanding upon the report that accompanied the initial release of the charts in 2000. Methods The growth charts were developed with data from five national health examination surveys and limited supplemental data. Smoothed percentile curves were developed in two stages. In the first stage, selected empirical percentiles were smoothed with a variety of parametric and nonparametric procedures. In the second stage, parameters were created to obtain the final curves, additional percentiles and z-scores. The revised charts were evaluated using statistical and graphical measures. Results The 1977 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth charts were revised for infants (birth to 36 months) and older children (2 to 20 years). New body mass index-for-age (BMI-for-age) charts were created. Use of national data improved the transition from the infant charts to those for older children. The evaluation of the charts found no large or systematic differences between the smoothed percentiles and the empirical data. Conclusion The 2000 CDC growth charts were developed with improved data and statistical procedures. Health care providers now have an instrument for growth screening that better represents the racial-ethnic diversity and combination of breast- and formula-feeding in the United States. It is recommended that these charts replace the 1977 NCHS charts when assessing the size and growth patterns of infants, children, and adolescents.

2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development.

Objectives—This report presents the revised growth charts for the United States. It summarizes the history of the 1977 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth charts, reasons for the revision, data sources and statistical procedures used, and major features of the revised charts. Methods—Data from five national health examination surveys collected from 1963 to 1994 and five supplementary data sources were combined to establish an analytic growth chart data set. A variety of statistical procedures were used to produce smoothed percentile curves for infants (from birth to 36 months) and older children (from 2 to 20 years), using a two-stage approach. Initial curve smoothing for selected major percentiles was accomplished with various parametric and nonparametric procedures. In the second stage, a normalization procedure was used to generate z-scores that closely match the smoothed percentile curves. Results—The 14 NCHS growth charts were revised and new body mass index-for-age (BMI-for-age) charts were created for boys and girls (http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts). The growth percentile curves for infants and children are based primarily on national survey data. Use of national data ensures a smooth transition from the charts for infants to those for older children. These data better represent the racial/ethnic diversity and the size and growth patterns of combined breast- and formula-fed infants in the United States. New features include addition of the 3rd and 97th percentiles for all charts and extension of all charts for children and adolescents to age 20 years. Conclusion—Created with improved data and statistical curve smoothing procedures, the United States growth charts represent an enhanced instrument to evaluate the size and growth of infants and children.

/pdf/cdc-growth-charts-united-states-37tvkrteku.pdf

CDC growth charts; United States

ContextThe prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased markedly in the
last 2 decades in the United States.ObjectiveTo update the US prevalence estimates of overweight in children and
obesity in adults, using the most recent national data of height and weight
measurements.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsAs part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES),
a complex multistage probability sample of the US noninstitutionalized civilian
population, both height and weight measurements were obtained from 4115 adults
and 4018 children in 1999-2000 and from 4390 adults and 4258 children in 2001-2002.Main Outcome MeasurePrevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥95th percentile
of the sex-specific BMI-for-age growth chart) among children and prevalence
of overweight (BMI, 25.0-29.9), obesity (BMI ≥30.0), and extreme obesity
(BMI ≥40.0) among adults by sex, age, and racial/ethnic group.ResultsBetween 1999-2000 and 2001-2002, there were no significant changes among
adults in the prevalence of overweight or obesity (64.5% vs 65.7%), obesity
(30.5% vs 30.6%), or extreme obesity (4.7% vs 5.1%), or among children aged
6 through 19 years in the prevalence of at risk for overweight or overweight
(29.9% vs 31.5%) or overweight (15.0% vs 16.5%). Overall, among adults aged
at least 20 years in 1999-2002, 65.1% were overweight or obese, 30.4% were
obese, and 4.9% were extremely obese. Among children aged 6 through 19 years
in 1999-2002, 31.0% were at risk for overweight or overweight and 16.0% were
overweight. The NHANES results indicate continuing disparities by sex and
between racial/ethnic groups in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.ConclusionsThere is no indication that the prevalence of obesity among adults and
overweight among children is decreasing. The high levels of overweight among
children and obesity among adults remain a major public health concern.

/pdf/prevalence-of-overweight-and-obesity-among-us-children-51pbezcu9k.pdf

Lester R. Curtin

Papers

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004

Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008.

2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development.

CDC growth charts; United States

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among us children, adolescents, and adults, 1999-2002