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Background on Obesity Task Force Committees Resources

Background on Obesity

Over the past two to three decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of overweight and obese people in the United States and around the world.1

The progressive rise in obesity shows no signs of slowing.2 This increase has been observed in both genders, and all ages and ethnic groups.

Among children and adolescents, the prevalence of obesity has increased two- to threefold in the two decades prior to 2000.3

About 64 percent of Americans are overweight, and about 30 percent are obese, with a body mass index of more than 30 kg/m2.4 The prevalence of extreme obesity, (body mass index of >40 kg/m2) has almost tripled in just 10 years, from 0.8 percent in 1990 to 2.2 percent in 2000.5

With obesity on the rise, the medical community anticipates an increase in the complications of obesity, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, gallbladder disease and others. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has increased from 4.9 percent in 1990 to 7.9 percent in 2000.2

In 2000, obesity was responsible for an estimated 400,000 deaths, compared to 300,000 in 1990.6 Obesity places second only to smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. In addition, obesity is a significant contributor to premature death. In Caucasians ages 20 to30 with a BMI >45 kg/m2, it has been estimated that obesity decreases life expectancy by 13 years in men and 8 years in women.7

Health care costs increase with increasing body mass index numbers,8 and obese adults ages 18 to 65 have 36 percent greater health care costs than those of normal-weight individuals.9 Direct costs have been estimated at $54 billion per year and indirect costs as high as $94 billion to $117 billion. 10,11,12,13 It's estimated that obesity is responsible for more health care expenditures than any other health condition, including smoking and problem drinking.8

  1. Anonymous. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation. World Health Organization Technical Report Series. 894:i-xii, 1-253, 2000.
  2. Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, et al. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk, 2001. JAMA. 2003;289:76-79.
  3. Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002;288:1728-1732.
  4. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002;288:1723-1727.
  5. Freedman DS, Khan LK, Serdula MK, Galuska DA, Dietz WH. Trends and correlates of class 3 obesity in the United States from 1990 through 2000. JAMA. 2002;288:1758-1761.
  6. Mokdad AH, Marks JS, Stroup DF, Gerberding JL. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA. 2004;291:1238-1245.
  7. Fontaine KR, Redden DT, Wang C, et al. Years of life lost due to obesity. JAMA. 2003; 289:187-193.
  8. Wang F, Schultz AB, Musich S, McDonald T, Hirschland D, Edington DW. The relationship between National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Weight Guidelines and concurrent medical costs in a manufacturing population. Am J Health Promot. 2003;17:183-189.
  9. Sturm R. The effects of obesity, smoking, and drinking on medical problems and costs. Health Affairs. 2002;21:245-253.
  10. Wolf AM, Colditz GA. Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States. Obes Res. 1998;6:173-175.
  11. Finkelstein EA., Fiebelkorn IC., Wang G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: how much, and who's paying?. Health Affairs. 2003; Suppl:W3-219-226.
  12. Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. State-level estimates of annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity. Obes Res. 2004;12:18-24.
  13. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; 2001.
  14. Thompson D, Edelsberg J, Kinsey KL, Oster G. Estimated economic costs of obesity to U.S. business. J Health Promot. 1998;13:120-127.
  15. New England Coalition On Obesity - Strategic Plan (NECON Document)
  16. King, AC, Clinical and community intervention to promote and support physical activity participation. Chapter 7. Dishman, RK, editor. Advances in Exercise Adherence, 1994;pages 183-212. Human Kinetics, Champagne Illinois.