Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Nov:(1):1-8.

Obesity among adults in the United States--no statistically significant change since 2003-2004

Cynthia L Ogden  1 , Margaret D Carroll, Margaret A McDowell, Katherine M Flegal
Affiliations
  • PMID: 19389313
Free article

Obesity among adults in the United States--no statistically significant change since 2003-2004

Cynthia L Ogden et al. NCHS Data Brief. 2007 Nov.
Free article

Abstract

Over 34% of adults aged 20 years and older are obese, but there has been no significant change in the prevalence since 2003-2004. The increasing trend in obesity over the last 25 years is a result of a shift in the entire BMI distribution and an increase in the prevalence of those who are extremely obese. In addition, disparities continue to exist. Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American women continue to experience a higher prevalence of obesity than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Although approximately two-thirds of obese individuals have been told by a health care provider that they are "overweight," obesity is extremely difficult to treat and the prevalence of obesity is not declining. Nonetheless, even without reaching ideal weight, research has shown that a moderate amount of weight loss can be beneficial in terms of reducing risk factors, such as high blood pressure. Maintenance of weight loss, however, remains difficult.

PubMed Disclaimer