The number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the US government.
Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. It said just under 6 percent are "extremely" obese.
"More than one-third of adults, or over 72 million people, were obese in 2005-2006, the NCHS said in its report. The numbers are based on a survey of 4,356 adults over the age of 20 who take part in a regular government survey of health, said the NCHS, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures come from the 2005-2006 survey and are the most current available.
"During the physical exam-ination, height and weight were measured as part of a more comprehensive set of body measurements," the NCHS report said.
"Although the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled since 1980, the prevalence of overweight has remained stable over the same time period," it said.
Obesity and overweight are calculated using a formula called body mass index or BMI. BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Someone with a BMI of 25 to 29 is classified as overweight, 30 to 40 counts as obese and people with BMIs of 40 or more are morbidly obese. A person 5 feet 5 inches tall becomes overweight at 68 kg and obese at 82 kg.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, arthritis and other conditions.
In May, the CDC reported that 32 percent of US children were overweight, 16 percent obese and 11 percent extremely obese.
Obesity has emerged as a growing problem not only in the US but also in many countries around the world.
