| Obesity is a major health problem in the United States, associated as it is with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer (Connecticut Hospital Association, 2005). The purpose of this study was to estimate trends of prevalence for obesity, leisure time activity and diet and to examine these factors with reference to the three major racial/ethnic groups of Connecticut's adult population using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 1994--2000. The findings were (a) an increased percentage of obesity prevalence among Whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics, (b) a higher prevalence of obesity among African-Americans and Hispanics, (c) a fluctuating trend of prevalence of fruit-and-vegetable intake, (d) a decrease in leisure time activity prevalence, (e) a relationship between leisure time activity and lower rates of obesity, and (f) a relationship between consuming fruits and vegetables more than 5 times per day and lower rates of obesity. |
