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Snapshot Puts Americans' Health in Focus

Did You Know …? Assorted Facts Provide Glimpse of Health in the U.S.

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Dec. 17, 2008 -- Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults say they're in very good or excellent health -- yet 27% of us are obese, 21% smoke, 8% have diabetes, 4% have asthma, and 21% drink too much.

This flurry of facts comes from the CDC and the Census Bureau, both of which today released a blizzard of data.

The facts don't all directly relate to one another. But like a mosaic, the pieces come together to offer a revealing picture of America's health.

Among the smorgasbord of facts about Americans:

Percentage without health insurance in 2008 (all ages): 14.3%
In 1997: 15.4%
Percentage who went without needed medical care sometime in 2008: 6.1%
In 1998: 4.2%
Number of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in 2007: 11.7 million
Percentage of cosmetic procedures performed on women: 91%
Percentage of adults who are obese, based on self-reported weight and height in 2008: 27%
In 1997: 19.4%
Percentage of adults who got at least 30 minutes of light exercise 5 days a week in 2008: 31%
In 1998: 29.8%
Percentage of adults who smoked in 2008: 20.8%
In 1997: 24.7%
Percentage of adults who had 5 or more drinks in one day at least once in 2008: 20.8%
In 1997: 21.4%
Percentage of adults who ever got an HIV test as of 2008: 38.3%
As of 1998: 30.2%
Percentage of adults 65-74 who needed help with personal care in 2008: 3.4%
Age 75-84: 7.3%
Age 85+: 17.6%
Percentage of adults who recently experienced serious psychological distress in 2008: 3%
In 1997: 3.3%
Percentage of adults diagnosed with diabetes in 2008: 8%
In 1997: 5.1%
Number of years since 1997 the adult diabetes rate did not go up: 0
Percentage of adults with an asthma attack in the last year: 3.9%
In 1999: 3.9%
Percentage reporting "very good" or "excellent" health in 2008 (all ages): 65.9%
In 1998: 69.1%