The National Center for Health Statistics has updated their prevalence figures for overweight and obesity in the United States. Here’s the latest:

• In the last 20 years, the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. doubled in adults.
• Overweight prevalence in children and adolescents tripled in the same time.
• Currently, 1 in 6 children and adolescents (17.1%) are significantly overweight.
• In children and adolescents, overweight has increased in just the past 4 years from 14% to 18.2% for males, and from 13.8% to 16% for females.
• Currently, 1 in 3 adults (32.2%) are obese.
• The increase in excess weight in the last 4 years was most pronounced in children and men. There was no significant change in obesity rates for women during this time period.
• Obesity rates were much higher in African-American (45%) and Hispanic (36.8%) adults, compared to white adults (30%).

Source: JAMA (April, 2006), 295:1549-55.