World Tuberculosis Day

March 24, 2016

In 1914, there were 86,359 deaths from tuberculosis in the U.S.; in 2014, there were 493 deaths attributed to the disease.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/lead1900_98.pdf

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Trends in Attitudes About Marriage, Childbearing, and Sexual Behavior: United States

March 17, 2016

An NCHS report describes attitudes about marriage, childbearing, and sexual behavior among men and women aged 15–44 in the United States based on the 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth.

Findings:

  • An increase in the percentage of men and women who agreed with premarital cohabitation.
  • An increase in the percentage of men and women who agreed with nonmarital childbearing.
  • An increase in the percentage of men and women who agreed with the right for gay and lesbian adults to adopt children.
  • An increase in the percentage of men and women who agreed with the right for same-sex sexual relations, as well as premarital sex for 18 year olds.
  • A decrease in the percentage who agreed with divorce.
  • No change from 2006-2010 to 2011-2013 in attitudes regarding marriage, cohabitation and the risk of divorce.
  • No change in attitudes about the necessity of having children for one’s happiness.
  • No change in attitudes about raising children in a cohabiting union.
  • No change in attitudes about premarital sex for 16 year olds.

Leave a Comment » | Marriage and Divorce, National Survey of Family Growth, sexual behavior | Permalink
Posted by briantsai

Current Asthma Prevalence by Weight Status Among Adults: United States, 2001–2014

March 16, 2016

Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder characterized by periods of airflow obstruction known as asthma attacks. Symptom frequency can range from intermittent to constant, and attack severity can vary from mild to life threatening.

Several studies have shown that among adults, obesity is associated with an increased risk of asthma diagnosis, more frequent asthma-related health care use, and greater symptom or severity burden.

In a new NCHS report, current asthma prevalence is examined by weight status among U.S. adults aged 20 and over.

Findings:

  • In 2011–2014, current asthma prevalence was 8.8% among adults. It was higher among adults with obesity (11.1%) compared with adults in normal weight (7.1%) and overweight (7.8%) categories.
  • Women with obesity had higher current asthma prevalence (14.6%) than those in normal weight (7.9%) and overweight (9.1%) categories. Current asthma prevalence did not differ significantly by weight status for men.
  • Current asthma prevalence was highest among adults with obesity for all race and Hispanic origin groups and age groups.
  • Overall current asthma prevalence among adults increased from 2001–2002 (7.1%) to 2013–2014 (9.2%). By weight status, prevalence increased among overweight adults but not among adults in the obese or normal weight categories.

 

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Nut Consumption Among U.S. Youth, 2009–2012

March 14, 2016

Nut consumption has been associated with improved weight status, nutrient intake, and diet quality among youth. However, allergies to nuts among children may be increasing, which may lead to higher vigilance over nut exposure in schools and other public settings.

An NCHS report examines the percentage of youth consuming nuts, including seeds and nut butters, on a given day. In addition, the source of nuts consumed is examined (i.e., the percentages of nuts consumed as a single-item food and as part of other foods).

Findings:

  • During 2009–2012, 32.4% of youth consumed nuts (including seeds and nut butters) on a given day.
    A higher percentage of non-Hispanic white youth (37.6%) than non-Hispanic black (24.3%) or Hispanic (25.0%) youth consumed nuts.
  • Almost 44.0% of youth in households at or above 350% of the poverty level consumed nuts, compared with 25.4% of youth in households below 130% of the poverty level.
  • Slightly less than 40% of nuts were consumed as a single-item food and not as an ingredient in candy, breads, cakes, cookies, cereals, or other dishes.

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Characteristics of Physician Office Visits for Obesity by Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 2012

March 3, 2016

Obesity, a complex and costly condition, affects more than one-third of adults in the United States. It raises the risk of morbidity from chronic diseases and is a major cause of preventable death.

A new NCHS report examines health care visits for obesity by adults aged 20 and over in 2012. A visit for obesity is one where the provider listed obesity as one of the diagnoses for the visit. National estimates on the assessment of risk factors and the provision of health-education services at these visits are presented.

The main implication of these findings relates to the provision of weight-related health-education services at visits for obesity. While this type of education was offered relatively  more often at visits for obesity, it was offered at less than one-half of those visits.

This finding can inform efforts in health care settings related to providing diet and nutrition, exercise, and weight-reduction health- education services, especially when obesity is a listed diagnosis.

Findings:

  • In 2012, 11 million visits, or an annual visit rate of 49 visits per 1,000 persons, to physician offices for obesity were made by adults aged 20 and over.
  • Annual visit rates for obesity varied by age and sex.
    Additional chronic conditions were listed more frequently at visits for obesity than at visits for other diagnoses.
  • Visits for obesity were 25% more likely to include assessments of height and weight and of blood pressure, and more than 50% more likely to include testing of blood glucose and lipids, compared with visits for other diagnoses.

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Posted by briantsai