Cohort differences in adult obesity in the United States: 1982-2002.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relative importance of broad social change, cohort-specific change, and population composition on trends in adult obesity over the past two decades.


METHODS
Using the National Health Interview Study from 1982 through 2002, 5-year birth cohorts are examined for differential trends in obesity. Logistic regression is used to separate out the effects of population composition from broad social change and cohort-specific change.


RESULTS
Results confirm that age-specific obesity rates have been increasing for successively born cohorts, indicating broad social change. There is little evidence for cohort-specific change, and only small effects of compositional change.


CONCLUSIONS
Although increasing diversity in the older population will probably result in higher rates of obesity in the future, increasingly sedentary lives and the uncertain impact of smoking cessation on weight outweigh population composition effects. More research is needed on the impact of lifestyle behaviors on the American population.
Reynolds
Sandra L
SL
School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., MHC 1344, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. sreynold@cas.usf.edu
Himes
Christine L
CL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012922:Social Change; D014481:United States; D044465:White People