More than 20 percent US adults have arthritis-CDC

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) More than 20 per cent of US adults have arthritis and more than a third of them have limited activity because of it, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Close to a third of people who are obese -- more than 31 per cent -- have had a doctor diagnose them with arthritis, the CDC survey found. Women also are more likely to have arthritis.

Only 16 per cent of people who are of normal weight or underweight have arthritis, the survey found.

The CDC looked at information in an annual survey of 30,000 people for its report, published in the agency's weekly summary of disease and death. The survey covered various forms of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia.

''The findings in this report indicate that 21.6 percent of US adults reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 8.3 per cent reported arthritis attributable activity limitation during 2003-2005,'' the CDC's report reads.

''Women, older adults, persons with little education, or those who are obese, overweight, or physically inactive are more likely affected,'' it said.

About 30 per cent of the US population is obese and 60 per cent are overweight or obese. Exercise has been shown to help prevent arthritis but only 22 per cent of Americans surveyed by experts said they exercised at least 30 minutes per day five or more times a week, as recommended by several groups.

REUTERS BDP RN0853