FROM VITAL & HEALTH STATISTICS OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, . Public Health Service


EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Office of Health Research, Statistics, and Technology Number 51 � August 30, 1979


Overweight Adults in the United States 

This report presents estimates of the percentages and numbers of overweight adults in 

the U.S. population developed from height 

and weight measurements obtained as part of 

the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

(HANES) conducted by the National Center 

for Health Statistics. Also presented is a 

profile of selected body measurements of 

these overweight persons. 

Estimates of the prevalence of overweight 

-in this report are estimates of excess body 

weight ab&e desirable weight (mean weights 

for men and women aged 20-29 years) by 

height. 

WhiIe weight gained after the twenties is 

e 

presumed to be due to 

in this report are not 

body fat other than 

from the deviation of 

the desirable weight. 

fat, the gross estimates 

true estimates of excess 

what can be inferred 

observed weight from 

Such estimates will not 

yield information of how much of the weight 

difference is accounted for by excess fat. 

However, findings from HANES in which 

obesity was defined by criteria ranging from 

measures that included all body components 

(e.g., body fat, width of skeletal size, and 

muscle) to those that included only body fat, 

will be analyzed and discussed in a future 

report. 1 Only selected data from that report 

are presented here (tables 1-6 and figures 1 

and 2). 

HANES is a program in which measures of 

nutritional status are collected for a scientifically designed sample representative of the 

civilian noninstitutionalized population of the 

� aThis report was prepared by Sidney Abraham

’

and Clifford L. Johnson, M.S.P.H., Division of 

Health Examination Statistics. 

United States over a broad range of ages, 1-74 

years. 

These HANES findings are based on the 

examination of the 13,131 persons aged 20-74 

years selected from a total sample of 20,749 

examined persons aged 1-74 years. A nationwide probability sample of 28,043 persons 

was selected to be examined from eligible 

households in the 65 primary sampIing units 

that were visited between April 1971 and June 

1974. The HANES nutrition examination 

included a general medical examination by a 

physician to identify indicators of nutntiond 

deficiencies, a skin examination by a dermatologist, and a dental examination by a dentist. Body measurements were taken by a 

trained technician, dietary information was 

obtained by the 24-hour recall method, and a 

food frequency questionnaire was administered. Numerous laboratory tests were 

performed on whole blood, serum, plasma, 

and ‘urine. A description of the sampling process and the HANES operation has been published.z 

The findings in this report are shown as 

national estimates based on weighted observations, i.e., the data obtained for each examined , 

person were inflated to the level of the total 

population of which the sample was representative. The appropriate weights were used 

to account for both sampling fractions and 

response results. 

Method 

In this report excess body weight is obtained by comparing the observed height and 

weight with those shown in the HANES table 

of desirable weights (tabIe 1). Excess body 
2 acklncedata 

Table 1. Desirable weightsl for men and women aged 20-74 years 

by height: United States, 1971-74 

Weight in pounds 

Height 

Women 

57 inches ........................................... . . . 113 

58 inches ...... ....... ....... ....................... . . . 117 

59 inches .... .......................... ...... ....... -.. 120 

60 inches ....................... ....... ............. . . . 123 

61 inches ...................................... ..... . . . 127 

62 inches ......... .............. ........ ........ .. .. 136 130 

63 inches ......................... ...... ............ 140 134 

64 inches ......... ................................ .. 145 137 

65 inches ......................... .................. 150 140 

66 inches .... ............................... ........ 155 144 

67 inches ........... .............. .................. 159 147 

68 inches .. ......................................... 163 151 

69 inches ................... ....................... . 168 154 

70 inches ............................. ........ ..... . 173 158 

71 inches .............................. ............ . 178 . . . 

72 inches .............. .......... .... .......... ..... 182 . . . 

73 inches ............................. .............. 187 . . . 

74 inches ........................................... 192 . . . 

1&sed on average weights estimated from regression equation 

of weight on height for men and women aged 20-29 years. 

NOTES: Height measured without shoes. Clothing ranged 

from 0.20 to 0.62 pounds which was not deducted from weights 

shown. Derived from data oft he Health and Nutrition Exa rnination Survey, 1971-74. 

weight status is defined as the deviation of 

observed weight from desirable weight, times 

100. 

The desirable weight was developed using 

a regression equation of weight on height 

measurement for men and women aged 20-29 

years as the standard for desirable weight. 

This method follows the principle of “desirable 

weight” that the increase in body weight in 

adulthood with age is undesirable and is based 

on the concept that after the twenties an 

individual should not gain weight, presumably 

fat, with each year of age. The standard, 

although not exactly ideal for some persons in 

the age ~group 20-29 years, minimizes the observed increase in fat in men and women during maturity. This is in contrast to the standard weight that uses the average weight of 

men and women of each age ~roup as the 

standard. 

We considered the deviation of 10 and 20 

percent above desirable weight, more so the 

latter, as arbitrary estimates that represent a 

presumption of obesity. There is no universal 

agreement on this definition. Ten percent 

above the desirable weight falls in the upper 

— 4 

20 percent of the distribution of relative 

desirable weight of men and women aged 

20-29 years. The corresponding percentage of 

20 percent above the desirable weight is 8 

percent for men and 11 percent for women. 

There is little or no question that the markedly 

overweight individual is obese. 

A profile of selected body measurements 

of overweight persons was made of those persons with observed weight deviation 10 and 20 

percent or more above desirable weights. 

In addition to height and weight data from 

HANES, skinfold thickness (triceps plus subscapular) and height-weight indices, a power 

function of height in relation to weight, were 

used in the profile. 

While direct anatomical and chemical 

methods for the estimation of body fat are 

not suitable for large-sczde epidemiological 

surveys, an indirect method such as the 

measurement of skinfold thickness meets the 

need for a simple test of relative fatness for 

the estimation of preva.Ience of obesity. If 

skinfold measurements are not available, there 

is general agreement that the most satisfactory 

measure is the body mass index.s J4 

During the HANES, two measurements 

were made of skinfolds plus subcutaneous 

tissue: One was made over the triceps midway 

between the elbow and the shoulder, and the 

other was made over the tip of the scapular. 

These measurements were recommended by 

the Committee on Nutritional Anthropometry 

(Food and Nutrition Board) for the general 

population.5 The two measurements were 

added into a single measure of leanness-fatness. 

This method obtained normative values based 

on the distribution of added measurements. 

The power function of height in relation 

to weight avoided the use of population reference standards by calculating a power function 

of height in a height-weight index, W/HP (in 

kg/meterP ). Using the formula of Berm, we 

computed the optimal power value from the 

HANES data and obtained a value of ~=2 for 

men and f7=l.5 for women.6 

Findings 

Table 2 presents body weight measurements for each examined person whose weight 

was 10 or 20 percent or more above the desir-
o-- a&me&ta3 

Table 2. Mean of selected body measurements for men and women aged 20-74 years with relative desirable weight measurements 10 

and 20 percent or more above desirable weightl, by age: Unitad States, 1971-74 

Skinfold thickness 

Weight in pounds Height in inches Body mass index2 in millimeters 

Sax and age 10 percent 20 percent 10 percent 20 percent 10 percent 20 percent 10 percent 20 percent 

or more or more or more or more or more or more or more or more 

Men . 

20-74 years . ... ... ..... . 202 219 69 69 29.97 32.52 39 45 

20-24 years . ... .. ... . ... . ... .... .. . 210 225 70 70 29.73 32.52 42 52 

25-34 years . .. ... .. .. .... . .. ... .. . . 212 231 70 69 30.67 33.75 41 49 

35-44 years . .... . .. .... .. .. .... . .. . 203 219 69 69 29.78 32.04 37 41 

45-54 years . ..... . . .... .. ... .. .. . .. 202 217 69 69 30.05 32.52 39 45 

55-64 years .... . .. . .... .. .. .. .. .. .. 198 215 68 68 30.02 32.57 37 42 

65-74 years .... . .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. 190 204 67 67 29.54 31.74 37 42 

Women 

2@74 years . .. .... .. .. .. 176 188 64 63 38.91 41.84 58 64 

20-24 years .. ... . ... ... .. .... ... . .. 174 195 64 64 37.95 42.57 58 67 

25-34 years ..... .. .... ... ... ... . ... 183 194 64 64 39.76 42.55 61 67 

35-44 years . ... . ... ... .. . .... . ... . . 182 195 64 64 39.76 42.69 60 65 

45-54 years .. .. . . .... . . .... .. ... . .. 176 187 64 63 38.90 41.55 60 65 

55-64 years .. ... . ... .. . .... . .. ... .. 172 182 63 63 38.93 41.18 58 62 

65-74 years .. . .. ... .. . .... .. .. ... .. 167 177 62 62 38.15 40.52 53 56 

1 Based on ~verage weights estimeted from regrewion equations of weight on height for men and women aged 20-29 yeas. 

2{~/#)~k g/meter~,w herep=2f Or menandp=l.s forwomeno 0- 3S~fold thickness= triceps phls subscapukr. 

able weight for each measurement. The mean 

values shown in this table are graphically shown 

in figures 1 and 2. 

The mean height for men 10 percent or 

more above the desirable weight was about 69 

inches, and their mean weight ranged from 

190 pounds at ages 65-74 to 212 pounds at 

ages 25-34 years. The mean weight for the age 

range 20-74 years was about 202 pounds. 

Comparable data for men 20 percent or more 

above the desirable weight showed the mean 

height to be 69 inches and mean weight to 

range from 204 pounds at ages 65-74 to 231 

pounds at ages 25-34 years. The mean weight 

for ages 20-74 was about 219 pounds. The 

National Center for Health Statistics has previously reported that the mean weight and 

height of men in the United States aged 20-74 

years was’1 72 pounds and 69 inches. For men 

10 percent or more above desirable weight, 

the mean observed weight was 30 pounds 

above that of the general male population. 

Corresponding data for men 20 percent or 

more above the desirable weight showed the 

mean observed weight to be 47 pounds above 

the mean weight of the general male population.5 

Table 2 also shows that in terms of the 

body mass index, W/~, the mean heightweight index for all age groups was about 

30 kg/(nzP) for men 10 percent or more above 

desirable weight and 33 kg/(’rnP) for those 20 

percent or more above desirable weight. 

The mean value of skinfold thickness 

measurement was 39 mm for men 10 percent 

or more above the desirable weight and 45 mm 

for those 20 percent or more above the desirable weight in ages 20-74 years. 

The mean value. of the body mass index 

(’W/1%) of 33 k.g/(mP) for men of all ages who 

were 20 percent or more above the desirable 

weight was about equal to the mean plus 2 

times the standard deviation of the distribution of the height-weight indices for men of 

the same ages in the general population: 

25.5 + 2(4.2)= 34. 

The mean value of skinfold thickness of 

45 mm for men of alI ages who were 20 percent or more above the desirable weight was 

more than the mean plus 1 times the standard 

deviation of the distribution of the tricep plus 

subscapular of men of the same ages in the 

general population: tri + sub= 28.2 + 1(12.5) 

=41. 
.

4 

Figure 1. MEAN OF SELECTED BODY MEASUREMENTS OF 

MEN AND WOMEN AGED 20-74 YEARS WHO ARE 10 

PERCENT OR MORE ABOVE DESIRABLE WEIGHT, BY 

SEX AND AGE: UNITED STATES, 1971-74 

TRlCEp5pLIJ5 SUBXAPULAR 

70 SKINFOLOIMILLIMETERSI 

_ Men 

. . . . . Women 

60	 : . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .6.0.. 

. . . . . . . . . .. . . 

. . . . . . 

. . ...3 

50 

I 

50 r 6DDY MASS INDEX (w/ffP) 

ml 40 

40 36 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 39. . . . . . ..._* ~/H, ~ 

31 

30 30 30 30 30 30 W/H 2

I 

220 ~ WEIGHT lpOUNDSI 

183 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .

1801

. ...’ -%... ,76 ,7, . ...” ,.. . . .. . . 

--...1.::.. 170 . . . .. . .

-..

!67 

160!.,


66 t 

B4M............. ............ ...........?. 

62~1,,,,-+ .......83 

. . . ..$ , ...... 

0 

‘C-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 

AGE IN YEARS 

A similar profile was made for women of 

comparable ages. Table 2 shows that the 

average height of women 10 percent or more 

above the desirable weight was 64 inches, 

which was about equal to the average height 

of women in the general population.7 Women 

10 percent or more above the desirable weight 

had an average weight of 176 pounds, which 

was on the average 33 pounds above the 

---1 

I 

Figure 2. MEAN OF SELECTED BODY MEASUREMENTS OF 

MEN AND WOMEN AGED 20-74 YEARS WHO ARE 20 

PERCENT OR MORE ABOVE DESIRABLE WEIGHT, BY 

SEX AND AGE: UNITED STATES, 1971-74 

TRICEPS PLUS SUBBCAPULAR 

70 ~, 67 SKIN FOLD (MILLIMETERS) _ Men .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . &5 a5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 .. . . . Wonle” 

60	 . . . . .. . 

. ...? 

52 

50 49 

46 

40”1~ 41 42 42 

0 I I I I I I 

eo BODY MASS INDEX (w/H. ) 

5a 

u 43 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...?... . . . . . . . . ...-.-........4.1 

40 

W/H 2 

!-

:~ 

240 WEIGHT [pOUNDSI r 

‘-l 

‘1185 

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...!?... .... 190 .. . ..:87 

. . . . . . . . . ~82 

-%... 

. . . . . . ..!77 leo 

70 m HEIGHT (INCHESI 

w B 

M 

[~ 

66 

64 m........ -...’ . . . . . . . . ...%.... 

. . . . 63 . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 

62~,1,,1,. . . ....62

0 

2W24 25.34 35.44 45.54 55.64 e5-74 

AGE IN YEARS 

Ieported average weight of 143 pounds for 

all women aged 20-74 vears.T For women 20 

percent or more above’ the desirable weight, 

the average height was about equal to the 

average reported for women in the general 

population.7 Their average weight was 188 

pounds, which was on the average 45 pounds 7 

above the average weight previously reported 

for women in the general population.7 

——— 
dmcdata5 

The mean value of the body mass index 

(W/Hi .5) was 39 kg/(mp) and 42 kg/(mP), respectively, for women 10 percent or more and 

20 percent or more above desirable weights in 

all age groups. The corresponding skinfold 

thickness measurements were 58 mm and 

64 mm for the two selected criteria of overweight in all age groups. 

For the body mass index of women who 

were 20 percent or more above desirable 

weight, the mean value (42 kg/(mP ) was more 

than the mean plus 1 times the standard deviation of the distribution of height-weight index 

(W/Hi5 ) of women aged 20-74 years in the 

general population: W/H15 = 31.8 + 1(6.9) 

= 39. For the skin fold measurement, the mean 

value (64 mm) exceeded the mean plus 1 times 

the distribution of triceps plus subscapular of 

women aged 20-74 years in the general population: tri+ sub = 42.3 + 1(17.4) = 60. 

The body mass indices for men and women 

10 percent or more above the desirable weight 

were in the upper 12 and 14 percent, respectively, of the distribution of this index for the 

general population aged 20-74 years. For men 

and women 20 percent or more above the 

desirable weight, the indices were in the upper 

4 and 8 percent, respectively, of the distribution. Corresponding percentages for men who 

were 10 percent or more and 20 percent or 

more above the desirable weight were in the 

upper 16 and 10 percent, respectively, of the 

distribution of skin fold thickness measurements. For women the percentages were in 

the upper 19 percent for those 10 percent or 

more above the desirable weight and in the 

upper 12 percent for those 20 percent or 

more above the desirable weight. 

Table 3 shows that about a third of the 

men aged 20-74 years in the United States or 

an estimated 18.4 million were 10 percent or 

more above the desirable weight. The corresponding value for men 20 percent or more 

above the desirable weight was 14 percent, or 

8.0 million men. Among women of comparable 

ages, the proportions were higher for each of 

the selected percents above the desirable 

weight—3 6.4 percent, or 23.4 million, for 

those 10 percent or more above the desirable 

weight and 23.8, or 15.3 million, for those 20 

percent or more above the desirable weight. 

The proportions of men above the desirable 3. Number of axaminad persons and estimated population agad 20-74 years and number and parcent of persons 10 and 20 

percant or more above desirable weight 1 , by sex and age: United States, 1971-74 

Percent deviation from desirable waight 

Estimated Number 

Sex and age examined population 10 percent or more 20 percent or more 

in thousands 

Number Percent Number Percant 

— 

Men

20-74 years ..... .. .... . ... ... .. ..m.. .. .. . ... .. .. . ... .. .. .... .. ... .. 5,001 57,431 18,434 32.1 8,041 14.0 

20-24ywrs .. .... .. .. ... ... .. .... . . .. .... .. .. .. .. .... .. . .. ... .. ... .. .. . ... ... 513 8,217 1,522 18.5 612 7.4 

25-34 y=rs .. ... .. .. . ..... .. .... . . .... ... .... .. ... ... .. ... .... .. . ..... ... ... .. 804 12,766 3,866 30.3 t ,742 13.6 

35-44 ymrs .. ... ... ...... . .. .... . ... .. .. ... .. ... . .... .. . ..... ... ..... . ... ... .. 665 10,804 4,222 39.1 1,839 17.0 

45-54 years . .... . . .. .... . ... ... . .. ... . ... .... .. . ..... . .. .... . ... .... .. ... ... .. 765 11,260 4,023 35.7 1,778 15.8 

55-64 years .... . .. ...... . .. .... . . .... . ..m.... ... . ... .. . .... .. . .. .....c.. ... .. . 597 8,688 3,022 34.0 1,339 15.1 

65-74 y~rs .. ... .. ..... . . ..... . .. ... .. ... .... . . .... . .. ..... . ... .. .. . .. ... .. . .. 1,657 5,496 1,784 32.5 737 13.4 

Women 

20-74 years . . .... ... .. . .. .. .... . . .. ... ... .... .. ... .... . ... .. .. . .. .. 8,130 64,181 23,394 36.4 15,268 23.8 

2024 years . .. ..... . .. ... .. .. ... . .. . ... .. ... ... .. .. ... ... ... . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. 1,243 8,919 1,729 19.4 859 9.6 

25-34 y*rs . ... .. ... . .... . .... .. .. .. .... . .. .... .. . .....i . .. .... . ..... .. . . ... . 1,895 13,986 3,526 25.2 2,390 17.1 

7 35-44 y*rs..m .. .. ... .... . .. .... . . .... . .... ... .. . .... .. ... ... . ... ... ... ... ... 1,663 11,772 4,305 36.6 2,864 24.3 

45-54 years . .... .. .. .... .. .. .. .. . .... ... ..... ... .. ... . .. ..... . .. . ... .. ... .. .. 836 12,264 5,266 42.9 3,411 27.8 

55-64 ymrs . .... . . ... ... . .. ... .. .. ... ... . .... .. . .... ... . .... .. .. .... .. .. .... . 670 9,953 5,001 50.2 3,449 34.7 

65-74 ymrs . ... .. . .. .. .. ... .... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... .. . .... .. .. .... .. . ... .. . . 1,822 7,277 3,565 49.0 2,281 31.5 

I“&md on ~vwage mights e~imated from regrewion equstions of weight on hei@ for ma’s~d womenwed z~zg yews. 

r 1 
6 acimncedata 

able weight increased with advancing age and 

peaked at ages 35-44 years, where about 40 

percent were 10 percent above the desirable 

weight and 17 percent were 20 percent above 

that weight. For women, the proportions also 

increased with advancing age and peaked at 

older ages (55-64 years), than men and then 

decIined. 

Women in the youngest age group and at 

ages 45 years or over showed a larger percent 

of deviation from desirable weight in the 10 

percent or more category than men did. This 

direction was not evident for ages 25-44 years, 

where the differences were much smaller 

between men and women than they were in 

the older age groups. 

Comparison of the relative frequency of 

men and women above desirable weight from 

HANES was made with that from the Health 

Examination Survey (HES), 1960-62. However, since the average weights were higher in 

HANES than in the HEST, the desirable 

weights estimated from regression equations 

of weight on height for men and women aged 

20-29 years obtained from HANES were used 

as the base for the findings in HES. 

-9


Overweight as defined by the percent of 

persons deviating from desirable weight was 

as prevalent among U.S. adults aged 20-74 

years in 1971-74 (HANES) as it was in 1960-

62 (HES) (table 4). The prevalence rate for 

men 10 percent or more above desirable 

weight from the two surveys was identical. The 

prevalence rates for those 20 percent or more 

above the desirable weight differed no more 

than expected from sampling variability. A 

simiki.r pattern in prevalence rates was also 

evident for women of comparable age range. 

At these ages the observed differences in proportions were 1.7 percent at 10 percent or 

more above desirabIe weight and 1.3 percent 

at 20 percent or more above desirabIe weight. 

Table 4 also shows that the prevalence 

rates for men 10 and 20 percent or more 

above desirable weight in the HES sample 

were higher than the prevalence rates for men 

in the HANES sample in the youngest age 

group and age 45 years and over. The actual 

differences in prevalence rates are numerically 

small. At these ages for those 10 percent or 

more above desirable weight, the HES data 

range was from 1.0 percent to 3.7 percent 

‘-’� 

Table 4. Comparison of the percent of men and women aged 20-74 I years in HES (1 960-62) and HAN ES (1971 -74) 10 and 20 percent 

or more above desirable weight , bY sex and age: united States 

, 

Percent deviating from desirable weight 

Sex and age 10 percent or more I 20 Dercent or more 

HES HANES Excess2 H ES HANES Excess2 

— 

Men

20-74 years . .. ... . ... .... . .. .... .. . .... . ... ... .. . ..... .. .... ... . .... . .. . 32.1 32.1 14.5 14.0 -0.5 

20-24 years . .. .. . .. ... .. ... .... . . .... . .. .... . ... .. ... . . .... . .. .... .. . .... .. . . 22.2 18.5 -3.7 9.6 7.4 -2.2 

25-34 years ..... .. ..... .. .. .... .. . ... . ..... . .. .. ... ... . ..... .... . .. ... ... .. .. 28.7 30.3 +1.6 13.3 13.6 +0.3 

35-44 years ..... . ... .. ... . ..... . . .... .. .. .... .. . ... .... .. ... . . .... .. .. .... .. . 31.8 39.1 +7.3 14.9 17.0 +2.1 

45-54 ywrs ..... .. . .... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... . . .... ... .. .. .. .. ..... . . 36.9 35.7 -1.2 16.7 15.8 -0.9 

55-64 years .. ... . ... ... .. ... ... . .. . ... .. . .... .. .. .... ... .... . . .... .. . . .... .. . 36.4 34.0 -2.4 15.8 15.1 -0.7 

65-74 years . ..... .. . ... .. . .... ... ..... .. . ... .. .. ..... . ... ... .. .. .. .. .. ..... .. 33.5 32.5 -1.0 14.6 13.4 -1.2 

Women 

20-74 years .. .. .... .. . ..... .. . ... .. ... ... .. . .... . .. . ... .. .. .. .. .. ..... .. 38.1 36.4 -1.7 25.1 23.8 -1.3 

20-24 years .. ... ... .. ... .. .. .... . .. ... .. ... ... ... .... .. .. .... ... ... .. . ..... ,. 18.8 19.4 +0.6 9.1 9.6 +0.5 

25-34 years .. .... . ... .... .. .. ... . . .. ... . ... ..... . . ... .. .. .... . .. ... ... . .... .. 24.3 25.2 +0.9 14.8 17.1 +2.3 

35-44 years .. .... . ... ... . .. ... .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. ... ... . .. ... .. .... . 34.6 36.6 +2.(I 23.2 24.3 +1.1 

45-54 years ... .... .. .. ... ... . .... . ... ... . .. ..... . . .... ... .. ... ... .... . ... ... . 43.4 42.9 -0.5 28.9 27.8 -1.1 

55-64 years . .. ... ... .. ... ... . .... ... .. ... .. ..... . ..... .. . .. ... . .. .... .... ... . 56.2 50.2 -6.0 38.6 34.7 -3.9 

65-74 years .. .. ... ... . ..... . .. ... ... ... .. . . .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .... . ... ... . 56.2 49.0 -7.2 38.8 31.5 -7.3 

* lDesirable ~e~ht ~stimted from regression equations of weight on height for men and women aged 20-29 Yems> obtained’ ‘m 

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES) and used as the base for the findings in Health Examination Survey (HES). 

2Excess of HANES over HES. 
o’­

greater than the HANES data. The corresponding differences for those 20 percent or 

more above desirable weight range from 0.7 

percent to 2.2 percent. In contrast, HANES 

prevalence rates were higher than HES prevalence rates at ages 2544 years for both criteria 

of overweight. The maximum difference is 7.3 

percent at ages 35-44 years with the differences ranging from 0.3 percent to 2.1 percent 

for both criteria of overweight. 

A similar pattern was observed for women 

in each age group with the exception of the 

youngest age ~group, where the HANES prevalence rate was higher than that for HES. The 

maximum differences were 7.2 percent and 

7.3 percent, respectively, at the oldest age 

group for both criteria of overweight. 

In HES, the proportion of women 10 percent or more above the desirable weight 

was less than that for men under 35 years of 

age and greater than that for men 35 years 

and over. The corresponding proportion for 

�“

women in comp arisen with ‘men ‘in HANES 

was more for women at the youngest age 

group 20-24 years, less than that for men at 

ages 25-44 years, and ~greater than that for 

men in the older age -groups. The proportion 

of women 20 percent above the desirable 

ackme&h7 

weight in HES was about the same as that for 

men in ages 20-24 years, and in HES and 

HANES exceeds that for men beyond this age 

group. 

Table 4 shows that the overweight prevalence rate for both criteria from HES and 

HANES sets of data increase with advancing 

years. For men, HES data reach a maximum at ages 45-54 years where 37 percent of the men were 10 percent or more 

above desirable weight and 17 percent were 

20 percent or more above desirable weight. 

For HANES, the prevalence rates peaked a 

decade earlier at about the same proportions 

for 10 and 20 percent or more above desirable 

weight. For HES and HANES the greatest increase in proportions occurs from the twenties 

to thirties. 

For women, the prewdence rates continued 

to rise with age and peaked at ages 55-64 

years, where more than 50 percent of tke 

women from HES and HANES were 10 rser­

& 

cent or more above desirable weight and more 

than 1 out of every 3 were 20 percent or 

more above desirable weight. 

The proportion of men and women whose 

relative weight exceed any other specified 

criteria may be found in tables 5 and 6. 

Table 5. Cumulative percent distribution of relative weight (observed weight/desirable weight for height x 100 ) for men aged 20-74 years 

in HES (1960-62) and HANES (1971 -74), by aga: United States 

a Under 155 ......... 99.6 99.1 100,0 99.8 99.7 98.5 99.3 88.0 99.9 98.8 99.0 88.3 100.0, 88.7 

99.7 99.3 100.0 100.0 99.7 98.7 99.5 99.2 99.9 99.0 99.3 99.4 100.0, 99.8 

~ 

Relative 20-74 yaars 20-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 yaars 45-54 years 55-64 years 65-74 years 

desirable 

weight 1960- 1971- 1960- 1971- 1960 1971- 1960- 1971- 1960- 1971- 196D 1971- 1960. 1971-

in pounds 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 

Cumulative percent distribution 

Under 85 ..........I 10.5 10.5 18.1 20.2 13.3 9.8 6.7 6.4 6.7 8.6 10.3 9.8 14.1 11.2 

Under 90 ........... 19.7 18.5 30.6 32.0 23.7 19.0 13.8 12.6 14.5 14.6 19.1 17.4 25.0 18.5 

Under 95 .......... 31.3 28.9 48.2 48.1 34.4 32.9 24.1 22.9 27.0 23.2 29.7 27.2 34.8 27.9 

Undar 100 ........ 43.9 41.6 60.2 60.4 46.9 46.7 38.5 32.1 39.0 33.9 41.1 38.3 47.2 40.9 

Under 105 ......... 56.0 54.1 70.9 71.8 58.1 58.5 53.8 45.0 51.2 48.2 53.1 50.1 55.8 53.7 

Under 11 0 ......... 67.9 67.9 77.8 81.5 71.3 69.7 68.2 60.9 63.1 64.3 63.6 66.0 66.5 67.5 

Under 115 ........ 77.6 78.1 86.4 89.0 78.9 78.6 77.9 73.2 72.9 74.4 74.7 77.3 79.4 79.3 

Under 120 ........ 85.5 86.0 90.4 92.6 86.7 86.4 85.1 83.0 83.3 84.2 84.2 85.0 85.4 86.6 

Under 125 ........ 91.5 90.8 93.1 94.7 92.3 90.2 90.9 89.8 90.0 89.5 92.9 90.3 90.3 91.9 

Under 130 ......... 94.7 94.2 95.0 96.6 95.5 93.1 94.8 95.0 93.7 92.9 95.6 93.2 93.7 95.4 

Under 135 ......... 96.8 96.0 96.3 98.0 96.9 94.9 96.9 96.5 86.5 95.2 97.5 95.3 96.8 97.3 

rider 140 ......... 98.2 97.4 97.4 98.6 98.2 96.3 98.0 97.7 98.6 97.3 98.4 96.9 98.5 98.4 

under145 ......... 98.7 97.9 97.4 98.6 98.4 97.1 98.8 98.1 99.1 97.9 98.6 97.6 99.1 98.8 

rider 150 ........ 99.5 98.7 100.0 99.2 99.6 98.2 99.0 99.0 99.6 98.1 99.0 99.0 100.0 99.4 
......

8 

Tabia 6. Cumulative percent distributirm Of relative weight (observed/desirable weight x 100 )for women aged 2074 yeers in HES 

(1960-62) and HANES (1971-74), by age: United States 

I 

Relative 20-74 years 2@24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-64 years 55-64 yeers 65-74 years 

desirable 

weight 1960- 1971- 1960 1971- 1960- 1971- 1960- 1971- 1960- 1971- 1960- 1971. 1960- 1971 -

in pounds 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 62 74 

Cumulative percent distribution 

Under 85 .......... 10.2 12.7 23.1 23.5 16.2 18.0 8.8 10.1 6.4 7.6 3.8 9.1 4.5 6.4 

Under 90 .......... 19.7 22.1 38.2 36.8 30.1 31.5 19.0 19.3 13.2 15.0 8.9 14.3 9.2 13.0 

Under 95 ...... .... 31.9 34.0 55.8 53.7 47,1 44.3 34.0 31.7 21.5 27.0 14.5 23.2 16.7 20.3 

Under 100., ...... 42.9 45.2 66.6 65.6 59.6 57.6 46.9 45.1 32.9 36.6 23.4 31.0 23.8 30.3 

Undar 105 ........ 52.8 55.1 75.9 75.3 70.4 66.2 55.3 55.6 42.7 46.5 34.1 40.9 34.8 42.2 

Under 110 ....... . 61.9 63.6 81.2 80.6 75.7 74.8 65.4 63.4 56.6 57.1 43.8 48.8 43.8 51.0 

Undar 115 ........ 68.2 70.3 87.2 87.3 81.1 79.6 72.2 68.8 64.6 64.2 53.1 58.1 52.5 59.7 

Under 120 ........ 74.9 76.2 90.9 90.4 85.2 82.9 76.8 75.7 71.1 72.2 61.4 65.3 61.2 68.5 

Under 125. . 80.3 ~ 80.9 93.1 92.6 68.2 85.8 81.9 80.2 76.5 77.7 68.8 72.4 72.2 75.6 

Under 130 ........ 64.6 ; 64.6 94.7 93.7 91.4 88.1 85.8 82.8 80.2 83.2 76.3 77.3 78.2 81.5 

Under 135 ........ 88,0 86.0 95.1 93.1 80.9 68.6 86.1 85.3 86.6 81.1 83.2 84.4 65.8 

Under 140 ... ..... :.: 90.7 86.2 95.8 94.9 92.5 91.3 66.7 89.3 89.8 85.6 87.4 87.1 68.9 

Under 145 ........ 93.3 92.8 96.8 96.9 96.0 93.8 93.3 91.1 92.7 92.1 89.1 90.7 91.8 92.4 

Under 150 ........ 95.0 94.4 97.3 97.2 97.5 95.3 94.3 93.1 94.1 93.4 91.9 93.2 94.6 94.5 

Under 160 .. ...... 97.1 96.6 98.5 98.3 96.5 97.0 96.1 95.8 96.7 95.6 95.6 96.5 97.8 97.2 

Under 170 ........ 98.4 98,0 99.0 88.1 88.0 98.2 98.2 97.5 97.9 97.0 96.8 97.9 99.7 98.5 

Under 180 ........ 98.8 88.9 88.3 88.5 98.8 99.2 86.0 98.6 98.8 98.4 98.6 100.0 88.3 

Under 180 ......... :; 99.2 100.0 88.6 98.8 88.4 88.6 98.8 88.1 88.4 99.0 98.8 100.0 88.5 

— ) —7 

REFERENCES 

1National Center for Health Statistics: Obesity 

of adults, 20-74 years of age, United States, 1971-

74, by S. Abraham. Vital and Health Statistics. 

Series 11. Public HeaIth Service, DHEW, Hyattsville, 

Md. To be published. 

2National Center for Health Statistics: Plan and 

operation of the Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey, United States, 1971-73, by H. W. Miller. Vital 

and Health Statistics. Series 1-Nos. 10a and 10b. 

DHEW Pub. No. (PHS) 79-1310. Public Health Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, 

June 1979. 

3 Keys, A., et al: Indices of relative weight and 

obesity. J. Chron. Dis., 25:329-343, 1972. 

4Womersly, J., and Durnin, J. V. G. A.: A Comparison of the skinfold method with extent of overweight and various weight-height relationships in the 

assessment of obesity. Br. ,i. Nutr. 38: 271-284, 1977. 

5 Committee on Nutritional Anthropometry, Food 

and Nutrition Board. National Research Council: 

Recommendations concerning body measurements 

for the characterizations of nutritional status, in J. 

Brozek, cd., Body Measurements and Human Nutrition. Detroit. Wayne University Press, 1956. 

6Benn, R. J.: Some mathematical properties of 

weight for height indices as measures of adiposity. 

B../. P;ev. Sot. Med. 25:42-50,1971 

National Center for Health Statistics: Weight and 

height of adults, 18-74 years of age, United States, 

1971-74, by S. Abraham, C. L. Johnson, and M. F. 

Najjar. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 1 l-No. 211. 

DHEW Pub. No. (PHS) 79-1659. Public Health 

Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, 

May 1979. 

- ‘-l 
dmcdata9 

TECHNICAL NOTES 

The sampling plan for the 65 examination 

locations in the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES ) followed a highly 

stratified multistage probability design in 

which a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the conterminous United 

States aged 1-74 years was selected. Successive 

elements dealt with in the process of sampling 

were the primary sampling unit, census enumeration district, segment (a cluster of households), household, eligible person, and sample 

person. The sampling design provided for oversampling among persons living in poverty 

areas, preschool children, women of childbearing age, and the elderly. 

The excess weight determinations are 

shown as population estimates, that is, 

the findings for each individual have been 

“weighted” by the reciprocal of the probability y 

of selecting the person. An adjustment for persons in the sample who were not examined 

and poststratified ratio adjustments were also 

made ‘so that the final sampling estimates of 

the population size were brought into closer 

alignment with the independent U.S. Bureau 

of the Census estimates for the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United 

States as of November 1, 1972, by race, sex, 

and age. 

--=. 

— 
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10 admncedata -’0 

SYMBOLS 

Data not availabl e----------------------------------------- I 

Category not applicable . . . 

Quantity zero -

Quantity more. than O but less than 0.05 0.0 

Figure does not meet standards of 

* reliability or precision 
.
 o--

No. 50. 

No. 49. 

No. 48. 

adwmdaa 11 

Recent Issues of Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics 

Office Vkits by Black Patients, National Am- No. 47. Prevalence, Disability, and Heafth Care for 

bulatory Medical Care Survey: United States, Psoriasis Among Persons 1-74 Years: United 

1975-76 (Issued:July 23, 1979) States (Issued: April 3, 1979) 

Office Vkits for Family Planning, National No. 46. Hemoglobin and Selected Iron-Related FindAmbulatory Medical Care Survey: United ings of Persons 1-74 Years of Age: United 

States, 1977 (Issued: April 16, 1979) States, 1971-74 (Issued: January 26, 1979) 

1977 Summary: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (Issued: April 13, 1979) 

I A complete list of Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistiix is available from the Scientific and Teehnical 

Information Bmnch. 

0-’