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Article InfoFigure 1
Trends in average BMI in US adults, 1988-2010. (A) Trends in women by age group. (B) Trends in men by age group. (C) Trends in women by racial/ethnic group. (D) Trends in men by racial/ethnic group. BMI = body mass index.
Figure 2
Trends in average waist circumference in US adults, 1988-2010. (A) Trends in women by age group. (B) Trends in men by age group. (C) Trends in women by racial/ethnic group. (D) Trends in men by racial/ethnic group.
Appendix Figure 1
(A) Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in women by race. (B) Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in men by race.
Appendix Figure 2
(A) Age-adjusted prevalence of abdominal obesity in women by race. (B) Age-adjusted prevalence of abdominal obesity in men by race.
Abstract
Background
Obesity and abdominal obesity are associated independently with morbidity and mortality. Physical activity attenuates these risks. We examined trends in obesity, abdominal obesity, physical activity, and caloric intake in US adults from 1988 to 2010.
Methods
Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.
Results
Average body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.37% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.44) per year in both women and men. Average waist circumference increased by 0.37% (95% CI, 0.30-0.43) and 0.27% (95% CI, 0.22-0.32) per year in women and men, respectively. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity increased substantially, as did the prevalence of abdominal obesity among overweight adults. Younger women experienced the greatest increases. The proportion of adults who reported no leisure-time physical activity increased from 19.1% (95% CI, 17.3-21.0) to 51.7% (95% CI, 48.9-54.5) in women, and from 11.4% (95% CI, 10.0-12.8) to 43.5% (95% CI, 40.7-46.3) in men. Average daily caloric intake did not change significantly. BMI and waist circumference trends were associated with physical activity level but not caloric intake. The associated changes in adjusted BMIs were 8.3% (95% CI, 6.9-9.6) higher among women and 1.7% (95% CI, 0.68-2.8) higher among men with no leisure-time physical activity compared with those with an ideal level of leisure-time physical activity.
Conclusions
Our analyses highlight important dimensions of the public health problem of obesity, including trends in younger women and in abdominal obesity, and lend support to the emphasis placed on physical activity by the Institute of Medicine.
Keywords:
Abdominal obesity, Adiposity, Body mass index, Calories, Diet, Exercise, Obesity, Physical activity, Waist circumference, WeightFunding: National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant T32DK007056 Awarded to PAM. The sponsor had no design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Conflict of Interest: UL has served as a consultant for Endosphere.
Authorship: All authors had access to the data and played a role in writing this manuscript.
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