The obesity epidemic in children and adults: current evidence and researchissues

Authors
Citation
Km. Flegal, The obesity epidemic in children and adults: current evidence and researchissues, MED SCI SPT, 31(11), 1999, pp. S509-S514
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE
ISSN journal
01959131 → ACNP
Volume
31
Issue
11
Year of publication
1999
Supplement
S
Pages
S509 - S514
Database
ISI
SICI code
0195-9131(199911)31:11<S509:TOEICA>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
Purpose: The term "epidemic" of obesity implies that obesity is a character istic of populations, not only of individuals. The purpose of this paper is to review evidence on obesity in populations and to identify future resear ch issues. Methods: To examine recent increases in the population prevalenc e of overweight or obesity, a literature search was undertaken. Results: Tr ends in overweight or obesity among adults showed considerable variability internationally. Some the United Kingdom; the United States, and Western Sa moa showed large increases in prevalence (>5 percentage points), whereas se veral other countries showed smaller or no increases. Overweight is also in creasing among children and adolescents, at least in some countries. It is not clear what the expected prevalence of overweight or obesity might be in the current environment, and these findings may be most usefully viewed as shifts in the distribution of a population characteristic. The reasons for these shifts are not clear. The health implications of these shifts are al so not clear, in part because trends in cardiovascular risk factors do not always parallel trends in obesity. Of the classic epidemiologic triad of ho st, agent, and environment, the environment has often received the least at tention. Conclusions: The economic, social, and cultural factors that influ ence the distribution of body mass index in a population are nor well under stood. Future research needs include continued monitoring of trends in obes ity and in related health conditions and observational studies to examine t he causes of these trends. Public health research should aim at defining re alistic goals and strategies to improve health in an environment conducive to high levels of overweight and obesity.