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Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
Good nutrition, physical activity, and a healthy body weight are essential parts of a person’s overall health and well-being. Together, these can help decrease a person’s risk of developing serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. A healthful diet, regular physical activity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight also are paramount to managing health conditions so they do not worsen over time.
Most Americans, however, do not eat a healthful diet and are not physically active at levels needed to maintain proper health. Fewer than 1 in 3 adults and an even lower proportion of adolescents eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day.1 Compounding this is the fact that a majority of adults (81.6%) and adolescents (81.8%) do not get the recommended amount of physical activity.2
As a result of these behaviors, the Nation has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity. Today, approximately 1 in 3 adults (34.0%) and 1 in 6 children and adolescents (16.2%) are obese. Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, which are among the leading causes of death. In addition to grave health consequences, overweight and obesity significantly increase medical costs and pose a staggering burden on the U.S. medical care delivery system.
Ensuring that all Americans eat a healthful diet, participate in regular physical activity, and achieve and maintain a healthy body weight is critical to improving the health of Americans at every age.
The Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Leading Health Indicators are:
Health Impact of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
The health impact of eating a healthful diet and being physically active cannot be understated. Together, a healthful diet and regular physical activity can help people:
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
Reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer
Strengthen muscles, bones, and joints
Improve mood and energy level
Chief among the benefits of a healthful diet and physical activity is a reduction in the risk of obesity. Obesity is a major risk factor for several of today’s most serious health conditions and chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and osteoarthritis. Obesity also has been linked to many forms of cancer.
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Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Across the Life Stages
Good nutrition, regular physical activity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight are cornerstones of health at every stage of life:
Children
Children and adolescents who eat a healthful diet are more likely to reach and maintain a healthy weight, achieve normal growth and development, and have strong immune systems.
Children and adolescents who get regular physical activity have improved muscle development, bone health, and heart health.
Children and adolescents who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for developing diabetes and heart disease; they are also likely to stay overweight or obese into adulthood, placing them at increased risk for serious chronic diseases.
Adults
Adults who eat a healthful diet and stay physically active can decrease their risk of a number of adult-onset health conditions and diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
Regular physical activity can lower an adult’s risk of depression.
Adults who maintain a healthy weight are less likely to die prematurely.
Pregnant Women
Good nutrition helps pregnant women support the healthy development of their infants.
Regular physical activity throughout pregnancy can help women control their weight, make labor more comfortable, and reduce their risk of postpartum depression.3
Staying at a healthy body weight can help women reduce their risk of complications during pregnancy.
Determinants of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
A number of factors affect a person’s ability to eat a healthful diet, stay physically active, and achieve or maintain a healthy weight. The built environment has a critical impact on behaviors that influence health. For example, in many communities, there is nowhere to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and no safe or appealing place to play or be active. These environmental factors are compounded by social and individual factors—gender, age, race and ethnicity, education level, socioeconomic status, and disability status—that influence nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. Addressing these factors is critically important to improving the nutrition and activity levels of all Americans; only then will progress be made against the Nation’s obesity epidemic and its cascading impact on health.
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Disparities in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
Some populations are more likely to eat a healthful diet and be physically active, while others are more likely to be obese. As a result, health disparities exist.
Nutrition
In 2004:
People who were Mexican American ate more vegetables per day (0.9 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, age adjusted) than people who were white non-Hispanic (0.8 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, age adjusted) or people who were black non-Hispanic (0.7 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, age adjusted).
Females ate more vegetables per day than males (0.8 versus 0.7 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, age adjusted).
People without disabilities ate more vegetables per day than people with disabilities (0.9 versus 0.8 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, age adjusted).
People who were age 51 or older ate more vegetables per day (1.0 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal, not age adjusted) than people of any other age group.
Among people age 25 and over, those with college degrees or above had the highest (best) mean daily vegetable intake, 1.0 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal (age adjusted), whereas people with less than a high school education and high school graduates had intakes of 0.8 cup eq. per 1,000 kcal (age adjusted).
Physical Activity
In 2008:
A greater proportion of males (21.7%) than females (14.9%) met the Federal physical activity guidelines.2
10.1% of American Indians or Alaska Natives and 11.3% of Hispanics met the Federal physical activity guidelines compared with 20.7% of the non-Hispanic white population.
A greater proportion of people with an advanced degree (30.3%) met the Federal physical activity guidelines than people who did not graduate from high school (5.2%).
A greater proportion of people living in cities or metropolitan areas (19.3%, age adjusted) met Federal physical activity guidelines than people living in rural areas (12.4%, age adjusted).
People (younger than age 65) with private medical insurance had the highest (best) rate of meeting the physical activity guidelines (24.1%, age adjusted) among insurance groups. Those with public insurance and the uninsured had the lowest rates (9.8% and 12.6%, age adjusted).
People in families with incomes 600% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) and over had the highest rate of physical activity (29.7%, age adjusted). People in families with incomes under the FPL and those with incomes 100% to 199% of the FPL had the lowest rate (9.9%, age adjusted).
Obesity
Between 2005 and 2008:
A lesser proportion of people who were white non-Hispanic (32.7%, age adjusted) were obese than people who were Mexican American (36.8%, age adjusted) or people who were black non-Hispanic (44.7%, age adjusted).
A greater proportion of people with disabilities (41.0%, age adjusted) were obese than people without disabilities (32.6%, age adjusted).
A lesser proportion of people who were born outside of the United States (26.9%, age adjusted) were obese than people born in the United States (35.3%, age adjusted).
Among people age 25 and over, those with a college degree or above had the lowest (best) rate of obesity, 25.5% (age adjusted), whereas people with less than a high school education had a rate of 37.8% (age adjusted).
People from families with incomes 500% of the FPL and over had the lowest (best) rate of obesity (27.4%, age adjusted). People in families with incomes 100% to 199% of the FPL had the highest (worst) rate (36.3%, age adjusted).
About the Disparities Data
All disparities described are statistically significant at the 0.05 level of significance.
Physical Activity in Adults (PA-2.4)
Obesity in Adults (NWS-9)
Obesity in Children and Adolescents (NWS-10.4)
Total Vegetable Intake (NWS-15.1)
References
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables . Atlanta, GA: 2009. Available from http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/health_professionals/statereport.html
2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans . Washington, DC: 2008. Available from http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines
3 Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pregnancy: Staying Healthy and Safe . Washington, DC: 2010. Available from http://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/staying-healthy-safe.cfm#b
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