New Study Finds Record 1 in 3 Americans Seriously Overweight

One in three American adults is now seriously overweight, the highest number ever reported, a new government study says.

The number of overweight Americans jumped an unprecedented 8% in 11 years, the National Center for Health Statistics reported. That figure translates to 58 million people who face an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic ailments because they weigh at least 20% more than the ideal body weight for their age, height and sex.

The study said Americans’ average body weight jumped about eight pounds between 1980 and 1991. The typical 5-foot-4-inch woman is about 25 pounds overweight and the average 5-foot-10-inch man carries about 30 pounds too much.

The new figures, drawn from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, show that not only are more Americans overweight, but also “the average body weight is increasing,” said Robert J. Kuczmarski, lead author of the report, which appears in today’s Journal of the American Medical Assn.

The information comes from a national survey of a representative sample of the U.S. population. It was conducted from 1988 to 1991 and involved 8,260 Americans, age 20 and older.

Previous surveys showed a 1% increase in the number of overweight Americans from 1960 to 1980.

Regional studies have hinted at an increase in the number of overweight Americans. But the scope and rapidness of the increase caught researchers by surprise, particularly given the recent popularity of lower-fat foods and the increased attention to exercise.

The survey found that the highest proportion of overweight Americans are women, with 35% above the ideal body weight, compared with 31% of men. Also, the number of overweight adults continues to increase with age until about 50 to 59 years, when it then starts to decrease.