Obesity Statistics

Obesity statistics in the United States have been on the rise for years. The U.S. surgeon general recently said that being obese and overweight has risen to epidemic proportions in America.

Obesity Statistics - The Basics

• 34 percent of Americans over age 20 are obese.

• In 2006, there were more than 72 million obese people in America.

• Obesity occurs in more women than men; more than 35 percent of women are obese compared to just over 33 percent of men.

• Obesity is founding 40 percent of men aged 40-59 and in 41 percent of women in this age group.

• Obesity is found in 28 percent of younger men aged 20-39, and in just over 30 percent of women in this age group.

• Obesity is found in 32 percent of men aged 60 and over, and it is found in about 30 percent of women aged 65 or older.

• Poor women are obese six times more frequently than women of higher economic status.

• In women aged 40-59, obesity is found in 53 percent of black women, 51 percent of Hispanic women and 39 percent of white women.

• In women 60 years old or more, obesity is found in 60 percent of black women, 37 percent of Hispanic women and 32 percent of white women.

• 78 percent of Americans fail to meet even the basic level of activity recommended.

• Approximately 25 percent of Americans live a completely sedentary life.

• Over 9 million kids from age 6 to age 19 are overweight.

• A report in 2001 showed that 25 percent of white children were overweight and 33 percent of black and Hispanic children were overweight.

• The chances for obesity increase by 57 percent for people who have a friend who becomes obese. If it's a sibling, chances increase 40 percent. With a spouse, it's 37 percent.

Obesity Statistics - The Consequences

• Cases of Type II Diabetes have increased by 76 percent in adults 30-40 years old in the past 17 years.

• Obesity is associated with 80 percent of the cases of Type II Diabetes.

• Obesity is associated with 70 percent of cardiovascular illnesses.

• Obese people make up 42 percent of breast cancer and colon cancer diagnoses.

• Gall bladder surgery is related to obesity 30 percent of the time.

• Over one quarter of obese people have high blood pressure.

Obesity Statistics - The Money

• The National Institutes of Health spends hundreds of millions of dollar every year on obesity-related research.

• The cost of hospitalization due to childhood obesity rose nearly $100 million dollars during the 20-year period from 1979 to 1999.