Health, United States, 2009

Centers for Disease Control's Annual Report Highlights (or in some cases, lowlights)

Mortality

• Leading cause of death in ages 1-44: unintentional injury
• Leading cause of death in ages 45-64: cancer
• Leading cause of death in ages 65 and older: heart disease
• Between 1990 and 2007, heart disease deaths declined 41% and cancer declined 18%.

Overweight, Obesity

• In 1960, 44.2% of the population was overweight. In 2006, the rate was 66.9%.
• In 1960, 13.3% of the population was obese. In 2006, the rate was 34.1%.
• In 1960, 51.2% of the population was a healthy weight. In 2006, the rate was 31.4%.
• Between 1976-1980 and 2005-1006, the obesity rate in preschool-age children doubled from 5% to 11%
• In school-age children 6 to 11 years old, obesity doubled from 7% to 15%
• In school-age children 12 to 19 years old, obesity tripled from 5% to 18%
• Adults 20 to 74 years old, obesity doubled from 15% to 35%

Prescription Drugs

• The percentage of the population with at least one prescription drug during the previous month increased from 39% in 1988–1994 to 47% in 2003–2006. During the same period, the percentage taking three or more prescription drugs increased from 12% to 21%. The increases were across the board for every age group.
  
• The number of prescriptions for every class of medication (excluding antibiotics), in every age group, increased exponentially between 1995-1996 and 2004-2005.
  

Dietary Supplements

• In 2003–2006, 54% of adults 20 years of age and over reported taking a dietary supplement in the past month. The use of dietary supplements is higher among women than men, and reported use increases with age.

Caloric Intake

• Between 1971 and 2006, total caloric intake has steadily increased.
• While carbohydrate intake has steadily risen over this period of time, protein and fat intake has declined.

Steve - many of these statistics mirror the public health issues currently facing the United States. The one on carbohydrate intake says it all. If the statisticians were to break down the type of carbs consumed, I'm sure that grains and refined sugars would be prominent.