December 14 2009
Fat City Again (by Dr. Bernard Goldstein and Dr. Tanya Kenkre)
The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show the Pittsburgh area to have a high rate of obesity, particularly among men and among the black population. Our rate of adult obesity in 2008 ranked second highest among the 15 benchmark regions.
The obesity rate for Pittsburgh men is 32.3 percent. This compared to a benchmark average of 27.0 percent and 27.6 percent for men across the nation. The obesity rate for Pittsburgh women is 25.3 percent, just under the obesity rates for women in benchmark regions and the nation – 25.6 and 25.8 respectively.
The problem is present in both our white and black populations, although far worse among blacks – who in 2008 were reported to have the incredibly high rate of 46.8 percent obesity as compared to 36.1 percent in benchmark regions and 36.9 percent nationally. This level of obesity among black residents of the Pittsburgh area is higher than any of the comparison metropolitan areas – but there are reasons to be cautious in our accepting of the numbers.
The data are derived from a national telephone survey done by the CDC each year and are based on self-reported height and weight which are used to calculate whether the individual is normal in weight, overweight or obese. As with any such survey, the error margin can be large, particularly for smaller population sizes. Accordingly, to help interpret the importance of these findings, we have presented the data for the Pittsburgh area black and white populations, and males and females, for each year from 2003 to 2008.
Certain patterns are repeated each year and are hard to argue with. First and foremost, there are more obese adults in the Pittsburgh area as is evident from having more adult obesity than national or benchmark averages in all but one year. It is also clear that Pittsburgh area men rather than women are responsible for this negative distinction. Our men rank at or above the benchmark and national averages every year, while the percent of obesity among women is around the national and benchmark averages.
The level of obesity among the white population of Pittsburgh is consistently higher than the benchmark and national averages in each of the six years 2003-2008, ranking 10th to 14th among the 15 comparison areas. For the black population, the numbers are not as consistent which is not surprising in view of the smaller number of survey responses. In 2007, the black obesity rate in the Pittsburgh area was relatively low, while in 2008 it is very high. Presumably, this represents the instability that occurs with smaller numbers – but it is certainly an issue to watch closely and on which to take action.
Three other points are obvious from these data. First, obesity is a rapidly increasing problem in the United States; the overall national average has increased every year since 2003. It affects us in many ways, from a higher level of diabetes in the nation, a problem which we have previously reported for the Pittsburgh area, to runaway health costs which will make a mockery of our current attempts at health care reform. Second, obesity rates are much higher each year among black than white Americans, adding to the many health and health care burdens of this community. Third, and perhaps most important, is information that is not reported: The CDC obesity figures are for adults; children are not part of their telephone survey. Obesity in children is increasing rapidly and, in addition to health issues, is a potentially enormous burden to our country in terms of national productivity and quality of life.
This is not the place to consider all of the societal and individual issues that contribute to the American obesity epidemic. A few points seem obvious. First, our measures to date in dealing with obesity epidemic have been relatively futile, as is evidenced by the yearly increase in the extent of obesity nationally and locally as shown in these figures. Second, studies have documented what we all have seen - fat parents have fat children. If we really care about the next generation we must confront obesity as a major national problem for both adults and children.
The obesity rate for Pittsburgh men is 32.3 percent. This compared to a benchmark average of 27.0 percent and 27.6 percent for men across the nation. The obesity rate for Pittsburgh women is 25.3 percent, just under the obesity rates for women in benchmark regions and the nation – 25.6 and 25.8 respectively.
The problem is present in both our white and black populations, although far worse among blacks – who in 2008 were reported to have the incredibly high rate of 46.8 percent obesity as compared to 36.1 percent in benchmark regions and 36.9 percent nationally. This level of obesity among black residents of the Pittsburgh area is higher than any of the comparison metropolitan areas – but there are reasons to be cautious in our accepting of the numbers.
The data are derived from a national telephone survey done by the CDC each year and are based on self-reported height and weight which are used to calculate whether the individual is normal in weight, overweight or obese. As with any such survey, the error margin can be large, particularly for smaller population sizes. Accordingly, to help interpret the importance of these findings, we have presented the data for the Pittsburgh area black and white populations, and males and females, for each year from 2003 to 2008.
Certain patterns are repeated each year and are hard to argue with. First and foremost, there are more obese adults in the Pittsburgh area as is evident from having more adult obesity than national or benchmark averages in all but one year. It is also clear that Pittsburgh area men rather than women are responsible for this negative distinction. Our men rank at or above the benchmark and national averages every year, while the percent of obesity among women is around the national and benchmark averages.
The level of obesity among the white population of Pittsburgh is consistently higher than the benchmark and national averages in each of the six years 2003-2008, ranking 10th to 14th among the 15 comparison areas. For the black population, the numbers are not as consistent which is not surprising in view of the smaller number of survey responses. In 2007, the black obesity rate in the Pittsburgh area was relatively low, while in 2008 it is very high. Presumably, this represents the instability that occurs with smaller numbers – but it is certainly an issue to watch closely and on which to take action.
Three other points are obvious from these data. First, obesity is a rapidly increasing problem in the United States; the overall national average has increased every year since 2003. It affects us in many ways, from a higher level of diabetes in the nation, a problem which we have previously reported for the Pittsburgh area, to runaway health costs which will make a mockery of our current attempts at health care reform. Second, obesity rates are much higher each year among black than white Americans, adding to the many health and health care burdens of this community. Third, and perhaps most important, is information that is not reported: The CDC obesity figures are for adults; children are not part of their telephone survey. Obesity in children is increasing rapidly and, in addition to health issues, is a potentially enormous burden to our country in terms of national productivity and quality of life.
This is not the place to consider all of the societal and individual issues that contribute to the American obesity epidemic. A few points seem obvious. First, our measures to date in dealing with obesity epidemic have been relatively futile, as is evidenced by the yearly increase in the extent of obesity nationally and locally as shown in these figures. Second, studies have documented what we all have seen - fat parents have fat children. If we really care about the next generation we must confront obesity as a major national problem for both adults and children.
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