Figure 6.1. Prevalence
of obesity among adults aged 20 years and over:United
States, 1997 - quarter one 2002
NOTES: Obesity is
defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more. The analysis
excluded people with unknown height or weight (about 4% of respondents).
CI is confidence interval.
DATA SOURCE: Sample
Adult Core component of the 1997-2002 National Health Interview Surveys.
The estimate for 2002 was based on data collected from January through
March.
In
early 2002, 24.5% (95% CI = 23.1%-25.8%) of U.S. adults aged 20 years and
over were obese.
The
annual prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults aged 20 years and over has
increased over time from 19.4% in 1997 to 20.6% in 1998, 21.5% in 1999,
21.8% in 2000, and 23.0% in 2001.