Americans Getting Taller, Bigger, Fatter, Says CDC

Average adult Americans are about one inch taller, but nearly a whopping 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960, according to a 2002 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bad news, says CDC is that average BMI (body mass index, a weight-for-height formula used to measure obesity) has increased among adults from approximately 25 in 1960 to 28 in 2002. The report, Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 1960-2002: United States, shows that the average height of a men aged 20-74 years increased from just over 58 in 1960 to 59 and 1/2 in 2002, while the average height of a woman the same age increased from slightly over 53 1960 to 54 in 2002. Meanwhile, the average weight for men aged 20-74 years rose dramatically from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002, while the average weight for women the same age increased from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 pounds in 2002. Though the average weight for men aged 20-39 years increased by nearly 20 pounds over the last four decades, the increase was greater among older men: Men between the ages of 40 and 49 were nearly 27 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Men between the ages of 50 and 59 were nearly 28 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Men between the ages of 60 and 74 were almost 33 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960. As to the average weights for women: Women aged 20-29 were nearly 29 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Women aged 40-49 were about 25 ½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.Women aged 60-74 were about 17 ½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960. Meanwhile, the report documented that average weights for children are increasing as well: The average weight for a 10 year-old-boy in 1963 was 74.2 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 85 pounds.The average weight for a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was 77.4 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 88 pounds.A 15-year-old boy weighed 135.5 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight of a boy that age increased to 150.3 pounds.A 15-year-old girl weighed 124.2 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight for a girl that age was 134.4 pounds According to the report, average heights for children increased as well over the past four decades. For example: The average height of a 10-year-old boy in 1963 was 55.2 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old boy had increased to 55.7 inches.The average height of a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was about 55.5 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old girl had increased to 56.4 inches.In 1966, the average height of a 15-year-old boy was 67.5 inches or almost 57 ½; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-old boy was 68.4 or almost 58 and 1/2.In 1996, the average height of a 15-year-old girl was 63.9 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-old girl had not changed significantly (63.8 inches). Average Body Mass Index (BMI) for children and teens has increased as well: In 1963, the average BMI for a 7-year-old boy was 15.9; in 2002 it was 17.0. For girls the same age, the average BMI increased from 15.8 to 16.6 over the same period.In 1966, the average BMI for a 16-year-old boy was 21.3; in 2002, it was 24.1. For girls the same age, the average BMI increased from 21.9 to 24.0 over the same period. The BMI is a single number that evaluates an individuals weight status in relation to height. BMI is generally used as the first indicator in assessing body fat and has been the most common method of tracking weight problems and obesity among adults. Even Heavier by 2014 In its latest â€Å"tale-of-the-scale† on Americans, the CDC reported that both men and women had, on average, grown even heavier than in 2002. According to the report â€Å"Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2011–2014,†   the average weight for men over age 20 had increased by 4.7 pounds, from 191 pounds in 2002 to 195.7 pounds in 2014. At the same time, the average weight for men over age 20 increased by 4.2 pounds, from 164.3 pounds in 2002 to 168.5 pounds in 2014.