Health Behaviors

Obesity

Results from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 64% of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.
Source: NCHS Health-E Stat

Smoking

The prevalence of current smoking among U.S. adults has declined over time from 24.7% in 1997 to 24.1% in 1998, 23.5% in 1999, 23.3% in 2000, 22.7% in 2001, and 22.4% in 2002.
Source: Early Release of Selected Estimates from the  National Health Interview (NHIS)

Leisure-time Activity

Sixty two Percent of American adults never regularly perform any vigorous physical activity, lasting 10 minutes or more, during their leisure time – including 59% who are not active at all.
Source: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2002

Different health behavior variables will be featured periodically on the Social Statistics Briefing Room.  For more detailed information on data collection, publications, and public-use data files, go to the NCHS home page.

This page last reviewed January 11, 2007