Commentary: The epidemic of obesity—what's in a name?

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Abstract
Increases in body mass index and in the prevalence of obesity have been observed in many parts of the world. Campos et al.1 criticize the description of obesity as ‘epidemic.’ Leaving aside for the moment the use of the word epidemic to describe obesity, they may be dismissing this phenomenon too hastily. Nationally representative data on measured heights and weights in the United States from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) programme, show that from the first Health Examination Survey in 1960–62 through the second NHANES in 1976–80, there was little change in the population.2 Mean body mass index for men varied from 25.1 in 1960–62 to 25.6 in 1976–80 and for women from 24.9 to 25.3. These changes in BMI would be equivalent to a change in weight of ∼1.5 kg for men of average height and of a little over 1 kg for women.