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MMWR
Synopsis for February 6, 2004

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EST

  1. Child Passenger Deaths Involving Drinking Drivers ― United States, 1997-2002
  2. Trends in Intake of Energy, Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat, and Saturated Fat— United States, 1971–2000
  3. Prevalence of No Leisure-Time Physical Activity— 35 States and the District of Columbia, 1988-2002
There is no MMWR Telebriefing scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2004

Synopsis for February 6, 2004

Child Passenger Deaths Involving Drinking Drivers ― United States, 1997-2002

Of the 9,622 child passengers who died in crashed during 1997-2002, a total of 2,335 (24%) died in crashes involving drinking drivers. States, communities, health care providers and families can take steps to help reduce these deaths.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communications

CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
(770) 488–4902
 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one year or older, and one in four of these crash deaths involves alcohol. This study found that 68 percent of children who were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States between 1997 and 2002 were riding in the same vehicle as the drinking driver. Sixty-eight percent of the drinking drivers involved in these crashes survived, suggesting that many of the children might also have survived had they been properly retrained. Strong enforcement of driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws, child safety seat laws, and safety belt laws could further reduce these deaths. In addition, communities can increase sobriety and safety belt checkpoints, enforce administrative license suspension for DWI, and implement mandatory substance abuse assessment and treatment for offenders.


Trends in Intake of Energy, Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat, and Saturated Fat— United States, 1971–2000

Americans need to continue working to reduce saturated fat intake, but also pay attention to overall calories and portion sizes and being active enough to match the food they consume.

PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communications

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics
(301) 458-4800
 

American adults are consuming more calories than they did 30 years ago, and the increase is over three times as great among women as among men, according to the latest analysis of the diet of the U.S. population released today by the CDC. The increase is attributed mainly to higher carbohydrate intakes, with about a 13% increase in carbohydrate intakes. While total fat and saturated fat intakes have decreased as a percent of total calories, the amount of fat consumed has changed little due to the increase in the overall number of calories consumed daily. Adult men on average consume about 2600 calories a day; women, on average, closer to 1900, according to the latest survey covering 1999-2000.


Prevalence of No Leisure-Time Physical Activity— 35 States and the District of Columbia, 1988-2002

In these 35 states and DC, since 1996, there has been an increase in people reporting any leisure-time physical activity, however, more effort is needed to further improve physical activity levels because physical activity is related to many chronic disease conditions.

PRESS CONTACT:
Sandra Ham, MS

CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(770) 488-5434
 

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that leisure-time physical inactivity prevalence has been improving since 1996. Fifteen-year trends in the proportion of the population who reported leisure-time physical inactivity were examined by age, gender, and racial/ethnic groups for 35 states and the District of Columbia. Prevalences of leisure-time physical inactivity were estimated from respondents to a telephone survey who reported no sports, exercise, or physically active recreation in the previous month. Researchers found that about 30% of that population was physically inactive from 1988 to 1996, and then inactivity declined about 1% per year to 25% in 2002. Comparing the prevalences in 1996 and 2002, an estimated 8.3 million fewer adults reported themselves to be inactive in 2002. The greatest improvements in people reporting any leisure-time physical activity were in non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and persons aged 40 years and older. Little or no improvement was seen for persons aged 18-29 years and for Hispanics. Inactivity is associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, osteoporosis, and diabetes mellitus.



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This page last reviewed February 6, 2004
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