U.S. Obesity rates unchanged since 2007-2008

There was no change in obesity rates among U.S. adults or children from 2007–2008 to 2009–2010, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report examined data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2010.  Key findings:

• More than one-third of adults and almost 17% of youth were obese in 2009–2010.
• The prevalence of obesity increased for men between the years 1999 - 2000 to 2009-2010; bringing the obesity rates for both men and women to about 35%.
• Adults over age 60 were more likely to be obese than young adults.
• In the past decade, there has been an increase in obesity rates among boys, but not among girls.

(Sources: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov, January 2012; AHA News Now, http://ahanews.com, January 17, 2012)