Health Facts Observance
Adult Obesity Facts
• More than one-third( 34.9 % or 78.6 million) of U. S. adults are obese.
• Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.
• Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest age-adjusted rates of obesity( 47.8 %) followed by Hispanics( 42.5 %), non-Hispanic whites( 32.6 %), and non-Hispanic Asians( 10.8 %)
• Obesity is higher among middle age adults, 40-59 years old( 39.5 %) than among younger adults, age 20-39( 30.3 %) or adults over 60 or above( 35.4 %) adults.
Childhood Obesity Facts
• Approximately 17 %( or 12.7 million) of children and adolescents aged 2— 19 years are obese.
• In 2011-2012, 8.4 % of 2- to 5-year-olds had obesity compared with 17.7 % of 6- to 11-year-olds and 20.5 % of 12- to 19-year-olds.
• In 2011-2012, the prevalence( of obesity) among children and adolescents was higher among Hispanics( 22.4 %) and non-Hispanic blacks( 20.2 %) than among non-Hispanic whites( 14.1 %).
• The prevalence of obesity was lower in non-Hispanic Asian youth( 8.6 %) than in youth who were non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black or Hispanic.
Note: In children and adolescents age 2 to 19 years, obesity was defined as a body mass index( BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the sex-specific CDC BMI-for-age growth charts.
Source: Center for Disease Control at http:// www. cdc. gov / obesity / data / childhood. html
Health & Fitness Observance Reminder
May is“ National Physical Fitness and Sports Month,”“ Employee Health and Fitness Month,” or National Health & Fitness Month depending on who you ask. Regardless of which name you prefer, the bottom line is that people— particularly Americans need to be more active. And while awareness is being raised for the need to get active, now is a great time to get started. Let today begin the first day of the rest of a healthier life for you. When you think about it, getting active and taking better care of your health is the best gift you can give yourself and your family. www. pneupathforliving. com 37