According to 2006 ATUS and Module data, Americans age 15 and older spent 67 minutes on an average day in "primary" eating and drinking of beverages, that is eating/drinking as a self-reported main activity. In addition, Americans spent an average of 16 minutes eating and 42 minutes drinking beverages (except for plain water) as secondary activities, such as while working, watching television, or playing sports. An additional 7 minutes were spent in associated activities (such as travel time to a restaurant and waiting to order). Men and women spent about the same amount of time eating/drinking.

Four percent of the U.S. population reported spending no time in primary eating/drinking on an average day, but they did spend an average of 35 minutes in secondary eating and 107 minutes (1.8 hours) in secondary drinking. Another 8 percent of the population, referred to as "constant grazers," spent an unusually long time eating and drinking—4.5 hours or more each day. Most of this group's food consumption time was spent in secondary drinking or sipping of beverages.

About 22 percent of the population was engaged in some eating or drinking activity between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Between noon and 1 p.m., 42 percent of Americans were engaged in eating and/or drinking activity. The evening peak was between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., with 40 percent engaged in eating or drinking.

On an average day in 2006...

The top three places for primary eating and drinking were: Own home or yard—67.2% Workplace—12.9% Restaurant or bar—11.2% The top three places for secondary eating or drinking were: Own home or yard—53.4% Workplace—20.0% Driving, walking, or biking—8.9% The top five activities that accompanied secondary eating or drinking were: Relaxing and leisure—29.2% (watching television and movies accounted for about two-thirds of this category) Paid working—19.5% Socializing and communicating— 5.9% Preparing, presenting, and cleaning up food and drink—5.2% Housework—4.4% The top five activities that accompanied secondary eating or drinking, by average time spent engaged in eating and drinking, were: Attending or hosting social events—77.2 minutes Paid working—70.3 minutes Arts and entertainment (includes movies, excludes sporting events)—68.5 minutes Participating in sports, exercise, or recreation—54.0 minutes Lawn, garden, and houseplant care—46.8 minutes

Source: ERS calculations using the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and the ERS Eating & Health Module.

USDA.gov

Only 26 percent of U.S. adults engage in vigorous leisure-time physical activity three or more times per week (defined as periods of vigorous physical activity lasting 10 minutes or more).

About 59 percent of adults do no vigorous physical activity at all in their leisure time.

About 25 percent of young people (age 12 to 21) participate in light-to-moderate activity (e.g., walking, bicycling) nearly every day.About 50 percent regularly engage in vigorous physical activity. Approximately 25 percent report no vigorous physical activity, and 14 percent report no recent vigorous or light-to-moderate physical activity.

source win

Total Cost: $117 billion
Direct Cost: $61 billion*
Indirect Cost: $56 billion

source win

Some studies show an increase in mortality rates associated with obesity. Individuals who are obese have a 10- to 50-percent increased risk of death from all causes, compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI 18.5 to 24.9).

Most of the increased risk is due to cardiovascular causes. Obesity is associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals.

source- WIN

Source: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2006

About two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

All adults: 133.6 million (66 percent)
Women: 65 million (61.6 percent)
Men: 68.3 million (70.5 percent)

Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese.

All adults: 63.6 million (31.4 percent)
Women: 35 million (33.2 percent)
Men: 28.6 million (29.5 percent)

Healthy weight

All adults: 65.4 million (32.3 percent)
Women: 38.1 million (36.1 percent)
Men: 27.4 million (28.3 percent)

according to government stats

Source: Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI, September 1998

Obesity is now considered by some to be a disease. According to a 1995 report from the Institute of Medicine, "obesity is a heterogeneous disease in which genetic, environmental, psychological, and other factors are involved. It occurs when energy intake exceeds the amount of energy expended over time. Only in a small minority of cases is obesity caused by such illnesses as hypothyroidism or the result of taking medications, such as steroids, that can cause weight gain."

Public health concerns about this disease relate to its link to numerous other diseases that can lead to premature illness or death. The report notes that overweight individuals who lose even relatively small amounts of weight are likely to:

• lower their blood pressure (and thereby the risk of heart attack and stroke)
• reduce abnormally high levels of blood glucose (associated with diabetes)
• bring blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (associated with cardiovascular disease) down to more desirable levels
• reduce sleep apnea, or irregular breathing during sleep
• decrease the risk of osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints
• decrease depression
• increase self-esteem.

Of course, losing excess weight is also likely to improve appearance, which is a strong motivation for many people.

Overweight refers to an excess of body weight that includes all tissues, such as fat, bone and muscle. Obesity refers specifically to an excess of body fat.

It is possible to be overweight without being obese, as in the case of a body builder who has a substantial amount of muscle mass. It is possible to be obese without being overweight, as in the case of a very sedentary person who is within the desirable weight range but who nevertheless has an excess of body fat.

However, most overweight people are also obese and vice versa. Men with more than 25 percent and women with more than 30 percent body fat are considered obese.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Note: A range of servings is given for each food group. The smaller number is for people who consume about 1,600 calories a day, such as sedentary women. The larger number is for those who consume about 2,800 calories a day, such as active men.

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

• An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
• An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

BMI is calculated the same way for both adults and children. The calculation is based on the following formulas:

weight (lb) / [height (in)]² x 703

Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.

For adults over 20

Below 18.5-Underweight

18.5 – 24.9-Normal

25.0 – 29.9-Overweight

30.0 and Above-Obese

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for people.

BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

Studies show that regular physical activity reduces people’s risk for heart attack, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure and may reduce their risk for stroke. Physical activity also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among older adults; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications.

More than 50% of U.S. adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits. Activity is less common among women than men and among those with lower incomes and less education.

Two-thirds of young people in grades 9–12 are not engaged in recommended levels of physical activity, partly due to high school physical education classes dropping from 42% in 1991 to 33% in 2005.

Physical activity does not be strenuous to be beneficial. It can also help people avoid developing functional limitations, can improve physical function, and can provide therapeutic benefits for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, arthritis, lung disease, and other chronic diseases. A 30 minute brisk walking most days of the week can be benificial.

People who are obese are at increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disabilities, and some cancers. The estimated total cost of obesity in the United States in 2000 was about $117 billion.

Promoting regular physical activity and healthy eating and creating an environment that supports these behaviors are essential to addressing the problem.

source CDC

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including the following:

• Hypertension
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

Source;CDC