How common is obesity?
Most health professionals say that obesity is an epidemic. In the United States, 30% of the population are obese, and 65% are overweight or obese. Obesity in the adult population has doubled since 1980.1
Certain groups are affected more than others:2
- Among women, overweight and obesity are more prevalent in racial and ethnic minorities than in non-Hispanic white women.
- Among men, overweight and obesity are more prevalent in Mexican Americans than in non-Hispanic whites or blacks.
- More non-Hispanic black women are overweight or obese than non-Hispanic black men.
- More non-Hispanic white men are overweight or obese than non-Hispanic white women.
- Women of lower socioeconomic status are approximately 50% more likely to be obese than those of higher socioeconomic status.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: April 16, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
 | ||
| |