Health problems up in young adults: CDC

Atlanta, February 20: A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Obesity rates among young adults of United states have tripled in the past three decades.

The report highlighted that young adults aged 18-29 in the United States face many health problems including lack of insurance coverage, high rate of obesity and injury as compared to older adults.

Obesity rate among young adults of United States has increased from 8 to 24 percent in the past three decades. Nearly two-third of young adults reported not having regular physical activity in their spare time as of 2005-2006.

The report stated that nearly 29 percent of men and 21 percent of women were current cigarette smokers as of 2006 and found that a third of college graduates lacked health insurance.

Sara Collins, an economist and assistant vice president for the Program on the Future of Health Insurance at the Commonwealth Fund said, "Young adults often lose coverage if they don't go on to college.” She advised young adults, “If you're insured through Medicaid or a state insurance program, when you turn 19, you're reclassified as an adult; you lose coverage."

The report revealed that in 2003-04, about 45 percent of young American women aged 20-24 were infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) which can lead to cervical cancerdefine.

The CDC reports that out of 37 countries and territories United States ranked 23rd for men and 25th for women in terms of life expectancy.

Dr. Jennifer Shu, CNN health's Living Well expert said, "At that age, people tend to be healthy but take it for granted, diabetes and heart disease start at much earlier ages now. The obesity and cigarettes can impact how young you might be when you get a serious illness."