A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association surveyed more than 184,000 adults to assess the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in US adults in 2000. The researchers found:

• More than half of American adults - 56.4% - were overweight, up from 45% in 1991.
• Nearly 40 million adults are obese.
• The prevalence of obesity (defined as BMI of 30 or higher) was 19.8%, up from 12% in 1991.
• The prevalence of diabetes was 7.3%.
• 27% of adults did not engage in any physical activity.
• 28.2% of adults were not regularly active.
• Only one out of four adults ate fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.

The researchers called obesity and diabetes "twin epidemics which threaten to overwhelm the health care system."

Related information Obesity and diabetes