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Show Behavioral Influences on Health Obesity Compiled by Dana Ewer 2000 Utah Obese Adults: 19 % 2000 US Obese Adults: 20% Obesity continues to plague the United States adult population and Utah is no exception. The prevalence of the overweight and obese population continues to rise (Table 1). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides an extensive list of consequences directly related to obesity including hypertension, type II diabetes, congestive heart failure, bladder control problems and psychological problems. It is also stated that obesity is the second higliest leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The Utah Department of Health states that the risk factor for overweight or obesity may be genetic or increased by familial factors for some people, but anyone whose calorie intake exceeds the number of calories they burn is at risk. Overweight and obese are defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25-29.9 for overweight and 30 or higher for obesity. An individual's BMI is calculated using their height and weight. Nationally the rate of obesity is 20% and overweight and obesity together is at 57%. Utah's rates remain slightly lower (Figure 1). The average number of obese is 19% and overweight and obesity is 54%. This information is gathered nationally and locally by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for which data are self reported, hi Utah, men have a higher rate of overweight and obesity than do women, hi 2001 the percentage of overweight and obese men was 61.5% while for women it was 47.9% (Table 2). In Utah and the rest of the nation the prevalence of obesity steadily increases by age up until 65 and then decreases: In Utah, 70.3% of the 50-64 years of age were overweight or obese. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion report that the highest indicator of obesity is lack of regular physical activity. In 2000, 30% of Utah's population reported continuous physical activity of any type occurring at least one hour a day and five times a week. Nationally only 26% reported similar activity levels. Table 1. Percent of Population that is Obese (BMI330), Utah and U.S., 1990-2000. Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Table 2. Percentage of Adults Who Are Overweight or Obese (BMI>25) by Age and Sex, Utah, 2000. Age (years) 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Utah U.S. 9.3 11.6 10.0 12.0 11.5 12.6 11.6 13.7 11.4 14.4 13.0 15.3 13.7 16.8 15.2 16.6 15.9 17.9 16.7 18.9 19.1 19.8 NA 20.9 Male Female 47.7 35.8 73.3 43.3 77.9 62.6 54 54.6 Figure 1. Percentage of Population That is Obese (BMI>30), Utah and U.S., 1990-2001. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Year 1999 2000 2001 Sources: Utah Department of Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health. [Online] http://heal.tfe.ulah.aov/ibis~ph. Retrieved 3/10/03. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Centers for Disease Control. [Online] http://www.cdc.Rov/flccdphp/d;ipa/obesit\ i f \ Retrieved 03/10/03. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Nutrition and Physical Activity. Centers for Disease Control. [Online] hj.tg.;// www cck gov/nccdphp/< t'- caar htn-s. Retrieved 04/24/03. 108 Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume DC |