The Epidemiology of Obesity and Headache
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is classified as having a total body fat (TBF) percentage greater than 35% in women and greater than 25% in men. However, because cost and ease of use, most epidemiological studies utilize anthropometric indices (such as the body mass index [BMI] or waist circumference [WC]) to estimate the threshold for total body obesity (TBO) and abdominal obesity, respectively. General obesity or TBO, based on the BMI, is estimated as a BMI ≥30 kg/m, while abdominal obesity (abd-O), based on the WC, is estimated as a WC >88 cm in women or >102 cm in men (see Appendix 1 for body composition categories based on the BMI and WC).
The prevalence of obesity has increased globally over the past decades. In the United States, the prevalence of general obesity (BMI ≥30) increased from 33% (women) and 27% (men) in 1999–2000 to 35% (women) and 32% (men) by 2007–2008. Similarly, the prevalence of abd-O in the United States has increased over the past decade, with 62% of women and 43% of men fulfilling criteria for abdominal obesity in 2007–2008, as compared with 56% of women and 38% of men in 1999–2000.
In addition to sex-specific differences, racial differences in adipose tissue distribution, as well as in obesity, have been identified. In the United States, obesity prevalence (based on BMI) has been reported to be greatest in African Americans, followed by Caucasians, and lowest in Asian Americans. However, notably given the same BMI, Asians have a higher TBF percentage compared with their Caucasian counterparts; and black women have a lower TBF percentage compared with white women.
Epidemiology of Obesity
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is classified as having a total body fat (TBF) percentage greater than 35% in women and greater than 25% in men. However, because cost and ease of use, most epidemiological studies utilize anthropometric indices (such as the body mass index [BMI] or waist circumference [WC]) to estimate the threshold for total body obesity (TBO) and abdominal obesity, respectively. General obesity or TBO, based on the BMI, is estimated as a BMI ≥30 kg/m, while abdominal obesity (abd-O), based on the WC, is estimated as a WC >88 cm in women or >102 cm in men (see Appendix 1 for body composition categories based on the BMI and WC).
The prevalence of obesity has increased globally over the past decades. In the United States, the prevalence of general obesity (BMI ≥30) increased from 33% (women) and 27% (men) in 1999–2000 to 35% (women) and 32% (men) by 2007–2008. Similarly, the prevalence of abd-O in the United States has increased over the past decade, with 62% of women and 43% of men fulfilling criteria for abdominal obesity in 2007–2008, as compared with 56% of women and 38% of men in 1999–2000.
In addition to sex-specific differences, racial differences in adipose tissue distribution, as well as in obesity, have been identified. In the United States, obesity prevalence (based on BMI) has been reported to be greatest in African Americans, followed by Caucasians, and lowest in Asian Americans. However, notably given the same BMI, Asians have a higher TBF percentage compared with their Caucasian counterparts; and black women have a lower TBF percentage compared with white women.
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