Insurance Insights
Stats Offer Snapshot of Americans' Health
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%
- Iin 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%
Sources:
- CDC: "Selected Estimates Based on Data from the January-June 2008 National Health Interview Survey," Dec. 17, 2008.
- U.S. Census Bureau, The 2009 Statistical Abstract, Dec. 17, 2008. News release, U.S. Census Bureau.
- By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News
- Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Resources
- UT System NEW Wellness Website!
GREAT NEWS! Now you can access and learn about all your Wellness Programs and Services in one place.
There is no better time to start taking charge of your health. We invite you to develop your own personal wellness program today! Make sure to visit our Web site regularly for ongoing updates and promotions at www.livingwell.utsystem.edu.
- 2nd Annual UT System Physical Activity Challenge. Will you accept the challenge? Just exercise 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. To help you complete this challenge and make it easy to track your progress, all UT System Institutions have partnered with the Texas Round Up to celebrate our 2nd Annual UT System Physical Activity Challenge. The institution with the greatest participation based on headcount will be awarded the coveted “Traveling Trophy”!
2nd Annual UT System Physical Activity Challenge
begins on January 1, 2009 and ends on April 18, 2009. Register Today!
- Lifestyle Management: Weight Management Programs. Sometimes a little extra support is all it takes to stay on track with weight loss goals. The UT SELECT Weight Management Program provides just that. When our members decide to make positive lifestyle changes by managing their weight, we’re ready with resources to help make the journey successful!
Learn more about this free program by calling UT SELECT Condition Management at 1-800-462-3275 or read more about this program available to all UT SELECT members (PDF).
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a benefit of your University of Texas System employment, which provides confidential, professional assistance to help you resolve problems that affect your personal life or job performance. It is designed to allow you to seek help when you need it, at no charge. The EAP can help with stress, depression, alcohol or drug problems, financial issues, interpersonal problems and much more. It also offers other services such as seminars, training and resource referrals.
Visit the UT System EAP main page for a directory of all institutions' EAP (http://www.utsystem.edu/benefits/Health/eap/homepage.htm).
- Online/Live (telephonic) Stress Management Program provided by UT SELECT.
Relax and stay awhile Stress management tools from the Personal Health Manager Do you long to be laid back and stress-free? Take a deep breath, count to 10 and let the Personal Health Manager do the rest. You can compose your questions—and yourself—and get confidential, e-mail answers from a supportive life coach using the Ask A Life Coach feature. Or, turn to the Live Well section where you can equip yourself to deal with life’s challenges, such as:
- Workplace issues
- Financial concerns
- Relationship and family matters
Visit the Personal Health Manager at Blue Access® for Members today—and stay with it to manage your stress.
Learn more:
- Visit http://bcbstx.com/ut/
- Log onto Blue Access
- Select Personal Health Manager Icon
- From there select the Living Well Icon on the top center banner
This information is provided by The University of Texas System, Office of Employee Benefits and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.
Contact Us
If you would like a specific topic discussed or have a question you would like answered in a future issue of this newsletter, please send your suggestions to LivingWell@utsystem.edu.
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