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Using the body mass index as a measure of weight-related health, with data from 2014, age-standardised global prevalence of underweight in women and men were 9.7% and 8.8%, respectively. These values were lower than what was reported for 1975 as 14.6% and 13.8%, respectively, indicating a worldwide reduction in the extent of undernutrition. [6]
In males, mean percentage body fat ranged from 23% at age 16–19 years to 31% at age 60–79 years. In females, mean percentage body fat ranged from 32% at age 8–11 years to 42% at age 60–79 years. But it is important to recognise that women need at least 9% more body fat than men to live a normal healthy life. [2]
Prevalence of obesity in the adult population, top countries (2016), the United States has the tenth highest rate in the world. The CDC defines an adult (a person aged 20 years or greater) with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater as obese and an adult with a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 as overweight. [4]
However, their mean body fat percentage, 14%, is well within what is considered a healthy range. [34] Similarly, Sumo wrestlers may be categorized by BMI as "severely obese" or "very severely obese" but many Sumo wrestlers are not categorized as obese when body fat percentage is used instead (having <25% body fat). [35]
In 2008, 35% of adults above the age of 20 years were overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2), a prevalence that has doubled worldwide between 1980 and 2008. [112] Also 10% of men and 14% of women were obese, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. [113]
In 2008, the first prevalence of US adults above 20 years was published, based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004, finding that 24% of normal-weight adults were metabolically abnormal; on the other hand 49% of overweight adults and 68% of obese adults were metabolically abnormal.
In 2008, 31.3% of adults aged 15 or older (28.2% men and 34.4% women) were insufficiently physically active. [3] The risk of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus is reduced by almost a third in adults who participate in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or equivalent). [ 42 ]
The number of Canadians who are obese has risen dramatically in recent years. In 2004, direct measurements of height and weight found 23.1% of Canadians older than 18 had a BMI greater than 30. When broken down into degrees of obesity, 15.2% were class I (BMI 30–34.9), 5.1% were class II (BMI 35–39.9), and 2.7%, class III (BMI ≥ 40).