National Center for Health Statistics
`
`National Center for Health Statistics
`Americans Slightly Taller, Much Heavier Than Four
`Decades Ago
`
`For Release: Wednesday, October 27, 2004
`
`Contact: NCHS Press Oce (301)458-4800
`
`E-mail: paoquery@cdc.gov
`
`Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index, United States 1960-2002. Advance Data No. 347. 18 pp. (PHS 2005-1250).
`[PDF – 620 KB]
`
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`Adult men and women are roughly an inch taller than they were in 1960, but are nearly 25 pounds heavier on average as well,
`according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, average BMI (body mass
`index, a weight-for-height formula used to measure obesity) has increased among adults from approximately 25 in 1960 to 28
`in 2002.
`
`The report, “Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 1960-2002: United States,” prepared by CDC’s National
`Center for Health Statistics, shows that the average height of a man aged 20-74 years increased from just over 5-8 in 1960 to
`5-9 ½ in 2002, while the average height of a woman the same age increased from slightly over 5-3 in 1960 to 5-4 in 2002.
`
`Meanwhile, the average weight for men aged 20-74 years rose dramatically from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002,
`while the average weight for women the same age increased from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 pounds in 2002.
`
`Though the average weight for men aged 20-39 years increased by nearly 20 pounds over the last four decades, the
`increase was greater among older men:
`Men between the ages of 40 and 49 were nearly 27 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`Men between the ages of 50 and 59 were nearly 28 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`Men between the ages of 60 and 74 were almost 33 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`
`For women, the near opposite trend occurred:
`
`Women aged 20-29 were nearly 29 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`Women aged 40-49 were about 25½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`Women aged 60-74 were about 17½ pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared with 1960.
`
`Meanwhile, the report documented that average weights for children are increasing as well:
`
`The average weight for a 10-year-old boy in 1963 was 74.2 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 85 pounds.
`The average weight for a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was 77.4 pounds; by 2002 the average weight was nearly 88 pounds.
`A 15-year-old boy weighed 135.5 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight of a boy that age increased to
`150.3 pounds.
`A 15-year-old girl weighed 124.2 pounds on average in 1966; by 2002 the average weight for a girl that age was 134.4
`pounds.
`
`According to the report, average heights for children also increased over the past four decades. For example:
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`Petitioner TWi Pharms., Inc.
`EX 1030, Page 1 of 2
`
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`The average height of a 10-year-old boy in 1963 was 55.2 inches, by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old boy had
`increased to 55.7 inches.
`The average height of a 10-year-old girl in 1963 was about 55.5 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 10-year-old girl
`had increased to 56.4 inches.
`In 1966, the average height of a 15-year-old boy was 67.5 inches or almost 5-7½; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-
`old boy was 68.4 or almost 5-8½.
`In 1996, the average height of a 15-year-old girl was 63.9 inches; by 2002 the average height of a 15-year-old girl had not
`changed signicantly (63.8 inches).
`
`Average BMI for children and teens has also increased:
`
`In 1963, the average BMI for a 7-year-old boy was 15.9; in 2002 it was 17.0. For girls the same age, the average BMI
`increased from 15.8 to 16.6 over the same period.
`In 1966, the average BMI for a 16-year-old boy was 21.3; in 2002, it was 24.1. For girls the same age, the average BMI
`increased from 21.9 to 24.0 over the same period.
`
`The BMI is a single number than evaluates an individual’s weight status in relation to height. BMI is generally used as the rst
`indicator in assessing body fat and has been the most common method of tracking weight problems and obesity among
`adults.
`
`The data in the report was based on actual body measurements taken as part of the National Health and Nutrition
`Examination Survey, which CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has conducted periodically since 1960. The
`NCHS report “Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 1960-2002: United States” is available on-line at the
`CDC/NCHS Web site.
`
`Page last reviewed: October 6, 2006
`
`Petitioner TWi Pharms., Inc.
`EX 1030, Page 2 of 2
`
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