Vol 49, No 3.
With the average person adding one to two pounds each year, its less surprising that older people are obese. What is startling is the increase in each age category over the past decade.
Education and race are influencing factors. Fewer college graduates are obese than those lacking high school degrees; blacks and Hispanics show greater prevalence toward obesity than whites.
But, male, female, black, white, educated or not, were all in this together. Last year alone, white male executives age 30-40 led the field in girth acquisition, increasing at an annual rate of 6 percent, the fastest rate among workers studied.
Percent of Obese Population
| |
1991 |
2001 |
| Gender |
|
|
| Men |
12 |
21 |
| Women |
12.2 |
20.8 |
| |
| Age Groups |
|
|
| 18-29 |
7.1 |
14 |
| 30-39 |
11.3 |
20.5 |
| 40-49 |
15.8 |
24.7 |
| 50-59 |
16.1 |
26.1 |
| 60-69 |
14.7 |
25.3 |
| >70 |
11.4 |
17.1 |
| |
| Race |
|
|
| White |
11.3 |
19.6 |
| Black |
19.3 |
31.1 |
| Hispanic |
11.6 |
23.7 |
| Other |
7.3 |
15.7 |
| |
| Educational Level |
|
|
| Less than High School |
16.5 |
27.4 |
| High School Degree |
13.3 |
23.2 |
| Some College |
10.7 |
21.0 |
| College or Above |
8.0 |
15.7 |
| |
| Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. | |