Deep dive
The United States: 60 years of measuring
Since 1959, US government health surveys have weighed and measured a sample of Americans — rather than just asking them. That makes the American obesity record one of the longest measured records in the world.
40.3%
of adults (20+) had obesity, Aug 2021–Aug 2023
Source: CDC NHANES (our calculation)
9.7%
of adults had severe obesity (BMI 40+), Aug 2021–Aug 2023
Source: CDC NHANES (our calculation)
21.1%
of children & teens (2–19) had obesity, Aug 2021–Aug 2023
5.2% in 1971–1974
Source: CDC NHANES (our calculation)
13.4%
of adults (20–74) had obesity in 1959–1962 — the first measurement
Source: CDC NHES I (our calculation)
The long climb
Adults aged 20–74 with obesity, 1959 to 2023
What this meansFor about 20 years the share barely moved — 13.4% in 1959–1962 and 15.0% in 1976–1980. Then it took off: 23.2% by 1988–1994 and 40.8% in Aug 2021–Aug 2023.
- Obesity
- Severe obesity
Show the numbers as a table
| Survey | Obesity | Severe obesity | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHES I 1959–1962 | 13.4% | 0.9% | 6,126 |
| NHANES I 1971–1974 | 14.5% | 1.3% | 13,111 |
| NHANES II 1976–1980 | 15.0% | 1.4% | 11,876 |
| NHANES III 1988–1994 | 23.2% | 3.0% | 14,319 |
| NHANES 1999–2000 | 30.9% | 5.0% | 3,603 |
| NHANES 2001–2002 | 31.3% | 5.4% | 3,916 |
| NHANES 2003–2004 | 32.9% | 5.1% | 3,756 |
| NHANES 2005–2006 | 35.1% | 6.2% | 3,835 |
| NHANES 2007–2008 | 34.3% | 6.0% | 4,876 |
| NHANES 2009–2010 | 36.1% | 6.6% | 5,279 |
| NHANES 2011–2012 | 35.3% | 6.6% | 4,674 |
| NHANES 2013–2014 | 38.2% | 8.1% | 4,940 |
| NHANES 2015–2016 | 40.0% | 8.0% | 4,778 |
| NHANES 2017–March 2020 | 42.3% | 9.6% | 7,417 |
| NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 | 40.8% | 10.2% | 5,249 |
Measured height and weight; age-adjusted to the 2000 US population; ages 20–74 so the earliest surveys can be compared. Shaded band = 95% confidence interval. Dots mark each survey.
Sources: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2000 to Aug 2021–Aug 2023; NHES I (1959–62), NHES II (1963–65), NHES III (1966–70), NHANES I (1971–74), NHANES II (1976–80), HHANES (1982–84), NHANES III (1988–94); NCHS Data Brief 508 (benchmark); NCHS National Health Statistics Report 158 (benchmark); NCHS Health E-Stat, adults 1960–1962 through 2017–2018 (benchmark); NCHS Health E-Stat, children 1963–1965 through 2017–2018 (benchmark); Age adjustment weights (2000 projected U.S. population); CDC 2000 BMI-for-age growth chart LMS parameters.
Children and teens
Children and teens with obesity
What this meansIn 1971–1974, 5.2% of 2–19-year-olds had obesity. By Aug 2021–Aug 2023 it was 21.1% — about 4 times as many.
- Ages 2–19
- Early surveys (6–11, 12–17)
Show the numbers as a table
| Survey | Ages | Obesity |
|---|---|---|
| NHES II 1963–1965 | 6–11 | 4.3% |
| NHES III 1966–1970 | 12–17 | 4.6% |
| NHANES I 1971–1974 | 2–19 | 5.2% |
| NHANES II 1976–1980 | 2–19 | 5.5% |
| NHANES III 1988–1994 | 2–19 | 10.0% |
| NHANES 1999–2000 | 2–19 | 14.0% |
| NHANES 2001–2002 | 2–19 | 15.4% |
| NHANES 2003–2004 | 2–19 | 17.1% |
| NHANES 2005–2006 | 2–19 | 15.5% |
| NHANES 2007–2008 | 2–19 | 16.8% |
| NHANES 2009–2010 | 2–19 | 16.9% |
| NHANES 2011–2012 | 2–19 | 16.9% |
| NHANES 2013–2014 | 2–19 | 17.2% |
| NHANES 2015–2016 | 2–19 | 18.5% |
| NHANES 2017–March 2020 | 2–19 | 19.7% |
| NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 | 2–19 | 21.1% |
Obesity = BMI at or above the 95th percentile on the CDC 2000 growth charts. The two earliest surveys covered only ages 6–11 (NHES II) and 12–17 (NHES III), so they are shown separately and are not directly comparable.
Sources: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2000 to Aug 2021–Aug 2023; NHES I (1959–62), NHES II (1963–65), NHES III (1966–70), NHANES I (1971–74), NHANES II (1976–80), HHANES (1982–84), NHANES III (1988–94); NCHS Data Brief 508 (benchmark); NCHS National Health Statistics Report 158 (benchmark); NCHS Health E-Stat, adults 1960–1962 through 2017–2018 (benchmark); NCHS Health E-Stat, children 1963–1965 through 2017–2018 (benchmark); Age adjustment weights (2000 projected U.S. population); CDC 2000 BMI-for-age growth chart LMS parameters.
Who is most affected? (Aug 2021–Aug 2023)
By sex
What this meansHighest: Women (41.4%). Lowest: Men (39.3%).
- Men39.3%
- Women41.4%
Age-adjusted. Hover a bar for the 95% confidence interval and sample size.
By age
What this meansHighest: 40-59 (46.4%). Lowest: 20-39 (35.5%).
- 20-3935.5%
- 40-5946.4%
- 60+38.9%
Not age-adjusted. Hover a bar for the 95% confidence interval and sample size.
By race and Hispanic origin
What this meansHighest: Non-Hispanic Black (52.1%). Lowest: Non-Hispanic Asian (13.1%).
- Hispanic44.0%
- Non-Hispanic White39.3%
- Non-Hispanic Black52.1%
- Non-Hispanic Asian13.1%
Age-adjusted. Hover a bar for the 95% confidence interval and sample size.
By family income
What this meansHighest: Below 130% of poverty line (43.9%). Lowest: Above 350% of poverty line (36.1%).
- Below 130% of poverty line43.9%
- 130%–350% of poverty line43.3%
- Above 350% of poverty line36.1%
Age-adjusted. Hover a bar for the 95% confidence interval and sample size.
Surveys like this one show where obesity is more or less common. On their own, they cannot tell us why.
Explore more
All US estimates on this page were calculated by ObesitySurvey from CDC public-use survey files, using the survey weights and design, and checked against figures CDC has published (for example 40.3% for Aug 2021–Aug 2023, matching NCHS Data Brief 508). See the methodology.
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