Obesity
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Within each age group, college-educated adults are less likely than others to be obese. In addition, children living in households with more highly educated adults are less likely than other children to be obese.
Key Points
- While the frequency of obesity is lower among adults with some college education than among high school graduates, for each age group the gap is largest between those with a bachelor’s degree and those with some college or an associate degree.
- Differences in obesity rates by education level persist through middle age but narrow considerably at older ages. For example, among 35- to 44-year-olds, 23% of four-year college graduates and 37% of high school graduates were obese in 2008. Among those 65 or older, 24% of four-year college graduates and 28% of high school graduates were obese.
- Within each household education level, obesity rates are higher for children ages 6 to 11 than for children ages 2 to 5. The frequency of obesity among the children from high school graduate households increases from 14% between the ages of 2 and 5 to 22% between the ages of 6 and 11. The frequency of obesity among the children from four-year college graduate households increases from 6% between the ages of 2 and 5 to 14% between the ages of 6 and 11.
- Within each education level, obesity rates are either about the same or slightly lower for children ages 12 to 19 than for children ages 6 to 11.
Also Important (View)
- Additional health care costs attributable to obesity averaged about $361 per adult in 2008. The total cost could increase fourfold by 2018 if the current rate of increase in obesity continues (United Health Foundation, 2009).
Key Points
- While the frequency of obesity is lower among adults with some college education than among high school graduates, for each age group the gap is largest between those with a bachelor’s degree and those with some college or an associate degree.
- Differences in obesity rates by education level persist through middle age but narrow considerably at older ages. For example, among 35- to 44-year-olds, 23% of four-year college graduates and 37% of high school graduates were obese in 2008. Among those 65 or older, 24% of four-year college graduates and 28% of high school graduates were obese.
- Within each household education level, obesity rates are higher for children ages 6 to 11 than for children ages 2 to 5. The frequency of obesity among the children from high school graduate households increases from 14% between the ages of 2 and 5 to 22% between the ages of 6 and 11. The frequency of obesity among the children from four-year college graduate households increases from 6% between the ages of 2 and 5 to 14% between the ages of 6 and 11.
- Within each education level, obesity rates are either about the same or slightly lower for children ages 12 to 19 than for children ages 6 to 11.
Also Important (View)
- Additional health care costs attributable to obesity averaged about $361 per adult in 2008. The total cost could increase fourfold by 2018 if the current rate of increase in obesity continues (United Health Foundation, 2009).
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Figure 1.18a: Obesity Rates Among Adults Ages 25 and Older, by Age and Education Level, 2008
| Education Level | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | Not a High School Graduate | High School Graduate | Some College or Associate Degree | Bachelor's Degree or Higher |
| 25 to 34 | 35% | 34% | 31% | 20% |
| 35 to 44 | 40% | 37% | 35% | 23% |
| 45 to 54 | 41% | 40% | 35% | 26% |
| 55 to 64 | 40% | 43% | 37% | 30% |
| 65 and over | 30% | 28% | 27% | 24% |
Note: “Obesity” is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which is equivalent to being at least about 30 pounds overweight at average heights. BMI equals 703 multiplied by weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, 2008; calculations by the authors.
Figure 1.18b: Obesity Rates Among Children and Adolescents Ages 2 to 19, by Age and Highest Household Education Level, 2008
| Education Level | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age: | Not a High School Graduate | High School Graduate | Some College or Associate Degree | Bachelor's Degree or Higher |
| 2 to 5 | 17% | 14% | 8% | 6% |
| 6 to 11 | 29% | 22% | 18% | 14% |
| 12 to 19 | 26% | 22% | 17% | 10% |
Note: “Obesity” is defined as BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age in months and gender, based on the 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, 2007–2008; CDC, 2010a; calculations by the authors.
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