Obesity Prevalence by Age Group and 5-year Changes in Adults Residing in Rural Wisconsin
Section snippets
Subjects
Marinette County has a population that is almost entirely white and predominantly of German, Polish, Scandinavian, French, and Irish ancestry (15). Seventy-four percent of the area's adults have a high-school education: 10% are college graduates (15). Eighty percent have always lived in the county. Per capita income is $10,420. In 1989,12% of individual residents and 9% of families lived below the poverty level (15).
The study included adult residents living within a 50-mile radius of Coleman, a
Results
Between 1992 and 1997, the women and men had a mean weight gain of 7.3 and 7.9 kg, respectively (Table 3). For both women and men, those in the youngest age group (20 to 30 years) experienced the greatest 5-year increase in body weight: 11 kg or more. The next greatest 5-year increase occurred in the 30- to 40-year age groups.
Discussion
This study estimated prevalence, distribution by age group in 10-year increments, 5-year changes in body weight, and the proportion of adults who are overweight and obese in a rural Wisconsin white population. The purpose of the study was to gauge weight changes with time to more accurately evaluate weight-control programs that are 5 years and longer. Our main finding was the alarming increase in body weight and in the proportion of overweight and obese people, especially in younger (20- to
Applications
■ Knowledge of obesity prevalence and incidence in defined communities by gender and age group enables health planners and professionals to identify and prevent those at particular risk from developing the condition and experiencing its associated health and economic consequences.
■ In this rural Wisconsin farming area, young adults showed the greatest 5-year weight gains, even though they had not attained their highest adult weights. This early period of adult life is a time when many people
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A life course perspective on BMI in rural America
2021, Health and PlaceCitation Excerpt :Our outcome measure is BMI when the respondent is between the ages of 18 and 33. We focus on this age range as the most significant weight gain typically occurs when men and women are in their twenties (Nelson et al., 2008; Rothacker and Blackburn, 2000). BMI is calculated as kilograms divided by meters-squared (kg/m2).
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2017, Annals of EpidemiologyCitation Excerpt :One study by Lewis et al. [31] examined 10-year increases in weight and found that the largest gains were seen among those in their 20s, as compared to those in their 30s. Furthermore, other studies have shown that younger adults living in rural areas gain more weight compared to those living in rural areas in mid-adulthood and in older adulthood [32,33]. Again, this could be due to differences in health behaviors and lifestyles, or to social or cultural norms apparent in rural areas.
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2001, Journal of the American Dietetic AssociationCitation Excerpt :The results of this 1-year study indicate that meal replacements may be a useful tool for long-term weight and fat control for patients unable to change their eating habits. Future studies should last longer than 1 year (1,16) and include a parallel control group from the same geographical area matched for age, BMI, gender, and race to control for area-specific background rates of weight change (27). Unfortunately, because this was an actual-use study, where intervention was kept at a minimum, physical activity and compliance with diet instructions were not monitored.