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Obesity: assessment and intervention for primary care practice
Nurse Practitioner Forum
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Obesity affects 26% of US adults aged 20-75, posing significant health risks. The national objective is to reduce adult obesity prevalence to below 20%.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States.
- Significant health implications including increased morbidity and mortality are associated with obesity.
- Obesity prevalence among adults has been identified as a national health objective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the prevalence of obesity in US adults aged 20-75.
- To highlight the public health implications of adult obesity.
- To contextualize obesity within national health objectives.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1976-1980 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Analyzed obesity prevalence among adults aged 20-75.
- Defined obesity based on established criteria.
Main Results:
- An estimated 34 million US adults aged 20-75 were identified as obese.
- The prevalence of obesity in this age group was 26% during the survey period.
- This prevalence significantly contributes to public health challenges.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of adult obesity underscores its status as a critical public health issue.
- Achieving the Healthy People 2000 objective to reduce obesity prevalence to below 20% is crucial.
- Continued monitoring and intervention strategies are necessary to combat the obesity epidemic.