Abstract
Objectives. Obesity has emerged as one of the most important public health issues in the United States. We assessed obesity prevalence rates and their trends among major US occupational groups. Methods. Self-reported weight and height were collected annually on US workers, aged 18 years or older, from the 1986 to 1995 and the 1997 to 2002 National Health Interview Surveys. Overall, occupation-, race-, and gender-specific rates of obesity (defined as a body mass index > 30.0 kg/m 2) were calculated with data pooled from both study periods (n > 600000). Annual occupation-specific prevalence rates were also calculated, and their time trends were assessed. Results. Obesity rates increased significantly over time among employed workers, irrespective of race and gender. The average yearly change increased from 0.61% (±.04) during the period from 1986 to 1995 to 0.95% (±.11) during the period from 1997 to 2002. Average obesity prevalence rates and corresponding trends varied considerably across occupational groups; pooled obesity prevalence rates were highest in motor vehicle operators (31.7% in men; 31.0% in women). Conclusions. Weight loss intervention programs targeting workers employed in occupational groups with high or increasing rates of obesity are urgently needed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1614-1622 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2005 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Obesity in US workers : The National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 2002. / Caban-Martinez, Alberto J; Lee, David J; Fleming, Lora E.; Gomez-Marin, Orlando W; LeBlanc, William; Pitman, Terry.
In: American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 95, No. 9, 01.09.2005, p. 1614-1622.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Obesity in US workers
T2 - The National Health Interview Survey, 1986 to 2002
AU - Caban-Martinez, Alberto J
AU - Lee, David J
AU - Fleming, Lora E.
AU - Gomez-Marin, Orlando W
AU - LeBlanc, William
AU - Pitman, Terry
PY - 2005/9/1
Y1 - 2005/9/1
N2 - Objectives. Obesity has emerged as one of the most important public health issues in the United States. We assessed obesity prevalence rates and their trends among major US occupational groups. Methods. Self-reported weight and height were collected annually on US workers, aged 18 years or older, from the 1986 to 1995 and the 1997 to 2002 National Health Interview Surveys. Overall, occupation-, race-, and gender-specific rates of obesity (defined as a body mass index > 30.0 kg/m 2) were calculated with data pooled from both study periods (n > 600000). Annual occupation-specific prevalence rates were also calculated, and their time trends were assessed. Results. Obesity rates increased significantly over time among employed workers, irrespective of race and gender. The average yearly change increased from 0.61% (±.04) during the period from 1986 to 1995 to 0.95% (±.11) during the period from 1997 to 2002. Average obesity prevalence rates and corresponding trends varied considerably across occupational groups; pooled obesity prevalence rates were highest in motor vehicle operators (31.7% in men; 31.0% in women). Conclusions. Weight loss intervention programs targeting workers employed in occupational groups with high or increasing rates of obesity are urgently needed.
AB - Objectives. Obesity has emerged as one of the most important public health issues in the United States. We assessed obesity prevalence rates and their trends among major US occupational groups. Methods. Self-reported weight and height were collected annually on US workers, aged 18 years or older, from the 1986 to 1995 and the 1997 to 2002 National Health Interview Surveys. Overall, occupation-, race-, and gender-specific rates of obesity (defined as a body mass index > 30.0 kg/m 2) were calculated with data pooled from both study periods (n > 600000). Annual occupation-specific prevalence rates were also calculated, and their time trends were assessed. Results. Obesity rates increased significantly over time among employed workers, irrespective of race and gender. The average yearly change increased from 0.61% (±.04) during the period from 1986 to 1995 to 0.95% (±.11) during the period from 1997 to 2002. Average obesity prevalence rates and corresponding trends varied considerably across occupational groups; pooled obesity prevalence rates were highest in motor vehicle operators (31.7% in men; 31.0% in women). Conclusions. Weight loss intervention programs targeting workers employed in occupational groups with high or increasing rates of obesity are urgently needed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=24144434734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=24144434734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2004.050112
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2004.050112
M3 - Article
C2 - 16051934
AN - SCOPUS:24144434734
VL - 95
SP - 1614
EP - 1622
JO - American Journal of Public Health
JF - American Journal of Public Health
SN - 0090-0036
IS - 9
ER -