Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116987

Cheryl Healton, DrPH¹, Donna Vallone, PhD², Kristen McCausland, MPH, MSW³, James Xiao, MS⁴, and Molly Green, MPH⁴. (1) President and CEO, American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, 202-454-5555, chealton@americanlegacy.org, (2) Director of Research & Evaluation, American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, (3) American Legacy Founcation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, (4) American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 23,488 adults (³ 18 yrs old) was conducted using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), to determine the proportion of US adults who are currently obese (BMI ³ 30.0), current smokers, and concurrent obese smokers. Prevalence rates were also stratified by age, sex, race/ethnic group, education, income, geographic region, occupation, and employment status. Results: Findings indicate that the proportion of adults who are obese is 23.5%, those who report current smoking is 22.7%, and the proportion of adult obese smokers is 4.7%. The proportion of those who both currently smoke and are obese is 8.8% among those living below the poverty line, indicating that an estimated 1.2 million Americans of substantial socioeconomic disadvantage bear the burden of both epidemics. Conclusions: Results suggest that there are two separate epidemics. Furthermore, while the proportion of adult obese smokers is relatively low, this subgroup is concentrated among the disadvantaged. Interventions to address smoking, obesity, and the smaller cross-over epidemic will require three comprehensive, but largely separate, concerted public health efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to describe the current prevalence of adult obesity, adult smoking, and the intersection of these two risk factors among adults, ages 18 and above, in the United States.

Keywords: Smoking, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation