TABLE 6—
Predicted and Actual Prevalence of Underweight in 1999–2002, by Gender and Age: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
| Predicted Prevalence,a % | |||||
| NHANES I (1971–1975) | NHANES II (1976–1980) | NHANES III (1988–1994) | Actual Prevalence, % | Predicted Prevalence if No One Smoked, % | |
| Total | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| Men | |||||
| Age, y | |||||
| 25–39 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 |
| 40–59 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 60–74 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Women | |||||
| Age, y | |||||
| 25–39 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| 40–59 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 |
| 60–74 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
Note. Data taken from only those participants of the NHANES 1999–2002 with complete data on weight, height, and smoking status. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2). Following federal guidelines,16 underweight was defined as a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2.
aShown is the predicted prevalence of obesity in the NHANES 1999–2002 if smoking prevalence were the same as in past surveys.