Statistical Brief #34 

The Prevalence of Obesity and Other Chronic Health Conditions 

among Diabetic Adults in the U.S. Community Population, 2001 

By: Marie N. Stagnitti, MPA 

Introduction 

Diabetes is an increasingly prevalent disease in the U.S. community (civilian noninstitutionalized) 

population. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) data indicate that, 

in 2001, about 12.4 million persons of the 207.9 million adults (persons age 18 and older) in the U.S. 

community population were told by a physician that they had diabetes. In 2000, over $18 billion was 

spent on health care for persons with diabetes. Medical research has shown that the obesity epidemic is 

a major contributing factor in the rise in the number of persons with diabetes and other health 

conditions. 

This Statistical Brief presents preliminary estimates of the relationship between diabetes, obesity, and 

other chronic conditions among adults in the U.S. community population. Body mass index (BMI) was 

used to categorize people into one of the following weight categories: underweight, normal weight, 

overweight, obese, and extremely obese. BMI values and categories were based on definitions 

provided by the National, Lung, Health and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. All 

results discussed are statistically significant at the 0.05 level. 

Brief Statement of Findings 

• In 2001, over 59 percent of the U.S. adult community population was overweight (BMI of 25.0 

to 29.9), obese (BMI of 30.0 to 39.9), or extremely obese (BMI greater than or equal to 40). 

• In 2001, adult diabetics were more than three times as likely to be extremely obese than 

nondiabetic adults and over one and one-half times as likely to be obese. 

• In 2001, adult diabetics were more likely than persons not diagnosed with the disease to have 

asthma and nearly three times as likely to have hypertension. 

• In 2001, adult diabetics were over three times as likely to have heart disease and more than 

four times as likely to have a stroke than persons not reporting the condition. 

Discussion 

Overall, in 2001 over 59 percent of persons 18 and older in the U.S. community population had BMI 

associated with weights higher than normal (3.2 percent extremely obese, 20.4 percent obese, and 35.7 

percent overweight) (figure 1). Seventy-nine percent of diabetics, compared with 57.8 percent of 

persons without diabetes, had a BMI of extremely obese, obese, or overweight (figure 2). Diabetics 

were also more likely to be extremely obese and obese (9.5 percent and 36.5 percent) than nondiabetic 
adults (2.7 percent and 19.3 percent). 

Adult diabetics were more likely than nondiabetics to have reported a number of other chronic health 

conditions. Diabetics were more likely to have asthma than adult nondiabetics (13.6 percent versus 8.9 

percent) (figure 3). Adult diabetics in comparison to nondiabetic adults were nearly three times as 

likely to have hypertension (62.7 percent versus 21.4 percent), over three times as likely to have heart 

disease (30.7 percent and 8.9 percent), and over four times as likely to have ever had a stroke (9.9 

percent and 2.2 percent). 

Data Source 

Data concerning the U.S. community population for the year 2001 are derived from the MEPS data 

files HC-034 and HC-050 and expenditure estimates from the 2000 MEPS Compendium of Tables. 

The 2001 MEPS-HC had a response rate of about 71.4 percent. 

About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on 

health care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of 

social, demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is 

cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Center for 

Health Statistics (NCHS). 

For a detailed description of the MEPS-HC survey design, sample design, and methods used to 

minimize sources on nonsampling error, see the following publications: 

Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. 

MEPS Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health 

Care Policy and Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. 

MEPS Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health 

Care Policy and Research, 1997. 

These publications and more information about MEPS are available on the MEPS Web site: 

http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/

References 

National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Clinical Guidelines on the 

Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report. 

NIH Publication No. 98-4083. Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, 1998. 
Figure 1. Percentage distribution of U.S. adult 

community population, by BMI status, 2001 

38.8 

35.7 

20.4 

3.2 

2.0 

Underweight 

Normal Weight 

Overweight 

Obese 

Extremely Obese 

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, 

Total Adult Population 

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component, 2001 
Figure 2. Percentage distribution of diabetic and 

nondiabetic adults in the U.S. community population, 

by BMI status, 2001 

20.3 

33.0 

36.5 

9.5 

0.7 

Underweight Normal Weight 

Overweight Obese 

Extremely Obese 

40.1 

35.8 

19.3 

2.7 

2.1 

Underweight Normal Weight 

Overweight Obese 

Extremely Obese 

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, 

Nondiabetic adult population Diabetic adult population 

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component, 2001 
Figure 3. Percentage of diabetic and nondiabetic adults 

in the U.S. community population with selected 

health conditions, 2001 

8.9 

30.7 

21.4 

62.7 

13.6 8.9 

2.2 

9.9 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50 

60 

70 

Nondiabetic adult population Diabetic adult population 

Percent 

Heart Disease Hypertension Asthma Stroke 

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, 

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component, 2001