Americans Getting Fatter
Americans Getting Fatter
May 7, 2010 -- Americans still aren’t heeding media and medical messages about the dangers of obesity. More Americans were obese at the end of 2010’s first quarter than at the same time last year, according to the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
The index, based on telephone surveys collected over three months, finds that obesity is trending higher among almost all groups. The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. was 26.7% at the end of the first three months of 2010, up slightly from 26.2% in the fourth quarter of 2009.
It’s up considerably from the 25.5% rate in 2008, and a tad higher than the 26.5% rate for 2009, according to the report.
The percentage of normal-weight Americans has now dropped to 35.2%, compared to 36.3% in the first quarter of 2008, but the same as in the first three months of 2009, the new survey says.
Here are obesity rates for various age and demographic groups.
In terms of annual income, the survey found that the more people make, the lower the rate of obesity. For example, 31.2% of Americans earning under $6,000 were obese at the end of 2010’s first quarter, 31.7% making between $6,000 and $35,999, 27.1% earning between $36,000 and $89,999, and 21.7% for people earning $90,000 or more.
Here’s the Skinny: Americans Getting Fatter
Adult Obesity Problem Not Getting Any Better, Despite Publicity About Its Health Toll, Survey Finds
May 7, 2010 -- Americans still aren’t heeding media and medical messages about the dangers of obesity. More Americans were obese at the end of 2010’s first quarter than at the same time last year, according to the latest Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
The index, based on telephone surveys collected over three months, finds that obesity is trending higher among almost all groups. The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. was 26.7% at the end of the first three months of 2010, up slightly from 26.2% in the fourth quarter of 2009.
It’s up considerably from the 25.5% rate in 2008, and a tad higher than the 26.5% rate for 2009, according to the report.
The percentage of normal-weight Americans has now dropped to 35.2%, compared to 36.3% in the first quarter of 2008, but the same as in the first three months of 2009, the new survey says.
Obesity Rates Rising
Here are obesity rates for various age and demographic groups.
| Age | 2008 | 2009 | First Quarter 2010 |
| 18-29 | 17.4% | 18.3% | 18.1% |
| 30-44 | 27% | 27.7% | 28.8% |
| 45-64 | 29.5% | 30.6% | 31% |
| 65-up | 23.4% | 24.2% | 24.9% |
| Race | 2008 | 2009 | First Quarter 2010 |
| White | 24.2% | 25.2% | 25.6% |
| Black | 35.1% | 36.2% | 35.8% |
| Asian | 8.6% | 9.6% | 8% |
| Hispanic | 27.4% | 28.3% | 28.4% |
| Gender | 2008 | 2009 | First Quarter 2010 |
| Male | 27% | 27.8% | 28.3% |
| Female | 23.9% | 27.7% | 25.2% |
| Region | 2008 | 2009 | First Quarter 2010 |
| East | 24.7% | 25.6% | 26.4% |
| West | 22.8% | 23.7% | 23.4% |
| Midwest | 26.8% | 27.7% | 27.8% |
| South | 26.9% | 28.2% | 28.6% |
Obesity Linked to Income
In terms of annual income, the survey found that the more people make, the lower the rate of obesity. For example, 31.2% of Americans earning under $6,000 were obese at the end of 2010’s first quarter, 31.7% making between $6,000 and $35,999, 27.1% earning between $36,000 and $89,999, and 21.7% for people earning $90,000 or more.
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