Observations from the CDC: Monitoring women's health in the United States: selected chronic disease indicators, 1991-2001 BRFSS.

OBJECTIVES

This analysis considers factors that underlie the leading causes of death and disability for adult women in the United States and changes in those factors over the previous decade.

METHODS

1991-2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data are used to review changes over the decade in the most important indicators of women's health. Estimates are weighted by demographic characteristics and selection probabilities. Sample sizes ranged from 50,875 women in 1991 to 121,456 in 2001.

RESULTS

State-level maps show dramatic changes in obesity prevalence over the previous decade. Obesity prevalence increased to 21.5% in 2001 from 12.4% in 1991. Reports of exercise, never smoking, and binge drinking remained essentially level. The percentage of women who currently smoke cigarettes declined slightly but significantly. Reports of ever being told they had high blood pressure increased significantly for women aged > or =65 years. There was a significant and substantial change in the percentage of women aged > or =40 who reported having a mammogram in the past 2 years (62.7% in 1991, 76.2% in 2001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings show that we are at a critical juncture in public health. Some changes are stunning (e.g., rising obesity), others remain stubbornly static (e.g., smoking), and still others demonstrate positive trends (e.g., mammogram screening). The increase in obesity foretells similar future increases in obesity-related chronic conditions unless public health efforts can stem the tide. It is imperative that effective strategies to change behavior are developed, especially those that are women focused, to improve quality and length of life.