THURSDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Young adults have a number of health challenges, including risk of obesity, high rates of injury and lack of insurance coverage, according to the report Health, United States: 2008, published Feb. 18 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 32nd annual edition of the report, from the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC, included a summary of health statistics from both federal government and private sector sources. A special section in this year's report highlights young adults aged 18 to 29. This data showed that rates of obesity have tripled in this age group since 1971 (8 percent to 24 percent from 1971 to 2006). Also, approximately 70 percent of deaths among people in this age group in 2005 were due to unintentional injuries, accidents, homicide or suicide. The report also notes that in 2006, about one-third of adults aged 20 to 24 did not have health insurance.
Other data included in the report showed that both males and females were living longer in 2006 compared with 1990 (3.6 years and 1.9 years longer, respectively), and up to 80 percent of women aged 75 or older had high blood pressure or were taking blood pressure medication between 2003 and 2006.
"This year's edition features a special section on adults aged 18 to 29, a group making many life choices including decisions about education, marriage, childbearing and health behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use, which will affect both their future economic and health status," the CDC states.
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