So Far, Adult Obesity Rates on Track to be Higher than 2012
June 27, 2013A new report indicates that so far, the rate of obesity in 2013 is slightly up from 2012. At this time of year in 2012, the rate was at 26.2 percent in comparison to the now 2013 obesity rate of 27.1 percent.
According to the Gallup-Healthways report, there has also been a very slight decline in the percentage of Americans classified as being of normal weight or overweight:
2012 Overweight Adults=36.1 percent
2013 Overweight Adults=35.6 percent
2012 Normal Weight Adults=35.9 percent
2013 Normal Weight Adults=35.4 percent
Gallup-Healthways has been tracking the weight of Americans since 2008. The information collected so far for 2013 is based on 84,463 surveys of individuals aged 18 and older and was conducted by telephone from January 1 to June 20. The surveys indicate that one possible reason for an increase in obesity rates is that Americans are exercising less frequently in 2013 in comparison to 2012. According to Gallup, (and other health professionals), exercising for 30 minutes a day, three days a week is linked to having a lower BMI.
Participants of the Gallup-Healthway survey reported their height and weight to calculate their BMI scores. According to the report, individuals are classified as follows:
-A BMI of 30 or above is classified as obese
-A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight
-A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is classified as normal weight
-A BMI of 18.4 or less is classified as underweight
The findings were released just after the American Medical Association (AMA) announced their support of the classification of obesity as a disease. The announcement was a bold move by the AMA and will most likely seriously impact the way insurance companies, physicians, and even the general population will perceive and treat obesity.