Obesity rates in the United States haven't increased much in recent years, government health officials said on Wednesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 34.3 percent of adults -- or more than 72 million people -- were obese in 2005 and 2006. The figures were essentially unchanged from the previous two-year period for the first time since 1980.
"What we can be optimistic about is we haven't seen a giant increase in the last couple of years," said Cynthia Ogden, an epidemiologist for the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. "But we aren't seeing any decrease, that's for sure."
Ogden said obesity rates in women have changed little since the 1999-2000 survey, but obesity rates in men have continued to rise. "Men are catching up to women," she said.
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index -- a ratio of weight and height -- of 30 or more.
Source: Xinhua/agencies
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