Forty-five U.S. states lost ground in an ongoing push to reduce obesity to 15 percent of the population by 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia were the only states where obesity was less prevalent last year than in 2005, the Atlanta-based CDC said in a report today. The agency cited estimates derived from individuals' self-reported data. While Colorado had the lowest prevalence of obesity, at 18.7 percent, its rate climbed from 17.4 percent two years earlier, researchers said.

The prevalence of obesity among adults age 18 years or older was 25 percent to 29 percent in 28 states, including New York, Texas, and Illinois, according to the survey. In three states, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, more than 30 percent of people were obese. Mississippi has had the highest obesity rate every year since 2004.

Overall, the proportion of U.S. adults who reported being obese in 2007 rose to a record 25.6 percent, which would include about 54 million people. That's 1.7 percent higher than two years earlier, the researchers said. CDC officials said the survey shows the 2010 target, set in 2000 by public and private health groups, may be elusive, leaving millions at risk for heart disease and diabetes.



"It's going to certainly be a struggle to get down to 15 percent, particularly for the country as a whole," said Deborah Galuska, associate director for science at the CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity.

Obesity is based on the body mass index, a calculation using height and weight. A 5-foot, 9-inch adult who weighs 203 pounds would have a BMI of 30, considered the threshold for obesity.

CDC officials believe the telephone survey of 350,000 adults offers conservative estimates of obesity rates, because it's based on what respondents said about their height and weight. Men commonly overstate their height and women often lowball their weight, health experts say.

The agency therefore estimates actual obesity at 34 percent of the population, rather than the lower figure based on the survey, Galuska said.

Healthy People 2010, a set of health goals established by federal scientists in January 2000, calls for obesity to be reduced to 15 percent of U.S. adults by 2010, according to program's Web site.

About 72 million Americans age 20 and older are considered obese under current U.S. guidelines, the CDC said in a December report based on interviews, physical examinations and laboratory tests. That report put the obesity rate at 34 percent.






fat ass source

French Fries
Hot Pockets
Double Whopper with Cheese
Cheese Nuggets
Deep-Fried Snickers bar
Philly Cheese Steak with Extra Cheese and Onions
Big Gulp
Apple Empanada
Strawberry GoGurt
Spicy Wings
Crispy Wings

It was reported in the newspapers here a month or two ago that Australia has actually overtaken USA as the fattest nation in the world! I don't know what the % obesity rate is

While I agree that most people are overweight, using BMI to guage it is bullshit.

I'm 6'1" and at my physical fitness peak I weighed 225 lbs., had less than 10% body fat, 32 inch waist, and pretty decent tone an definition.
6'1" & 225 lbs gives me a BMI of 30, which means I'm morbidly obese according to this system. Bullshit!

Now that I've lost some muscle mass and my weight has dropped (even though my waist has increased to 35 inches) my BMI has dropped to 27. So even though I now have a little bit of a gut, I'm apparently less FAT then I was when I working out every freakin day.

In what universe does this system make sense?

The Statue of David is being returned to Italy after a two year tour in America.....