Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Extreme Obesity Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 1960–1962 Through 2013–2014
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by Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H., and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
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Results from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 32.7% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over are overweight, 37.9% are obese, and 7.7% are extremely obese. Body mass index (BMI), expressed as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2), is commonly used to classify overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30.0), and extreme obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40.0).
Age-adjusted trends in overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity prevalence from 1960–1962 through 2013–2014 are shown in Table 1. Because surveys before 1988 did not include persons over age 74, Table 1 shows the prevalence for adults aged 20 and over since 1988 and adults aged 20–74 for all survey periods dating back to 1960. The age-adjusted sex-specific trends of overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity among adults aged 20–74 from 1960–1962 through 2013–2014 are shown in the figure. Table 2 contains the prevalence of obesity by age for men and women since 1988–1994, and Table 3 contains the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity by race and Hispanic origin for men and women since 1988–1994.
The prevalence of obesity as measured by BMI among non-Hispanic Asian adults was much lower than that reported for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults. Although BMI is widely used as a measure of body fat, at a given BMI level, body fat may vary by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin. In particular, research suggests that Asian persons may have more body fat than white persons, especially at lower BMIs, and that health risks may begin at a lower BMI among Asian persons compared with others.
NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, is a stratified, multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. The survey began oversampling non-Hispanic Asian persons in 2011–2012 and the total Hispanic population in 2007–
2008. Beginning in 2007–2008, Mexican-American persons were no longer oversampled but are included in the oversampled total Hispanic population.
A household interview and a physical examination are conducted for each survey participant. During the physical examination, conducted in a mobile examination center, height and weight are measured as part of a comprehensive set of body measurements. These measurements are taken by trained health technicians, using standardized measuring procedures and equipment. Observations for pregnant women and for persons missing a valid height or weight measurement were not included in the data analysis.
For additional information on NHANES methods, visit the NHANES methods page.
Figure
Figure. Trends in adult overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity among men and women aged 20–74: United States, 1960–1962 through 2013–2014
NOTES: Age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Census Bureau estimates using age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60–74. Overweight is body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or greater but less than 30 kg/m2; obesity is BMI greater than or equal to 30; and extreme obesity is BMI greater than or equal to 40. Pregnant females were excluded from the analysis.
SOURCES: NCHS, National Health Examination Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
Tables
| Age group | Survey period | Sample (n) | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | Men | Women | ||||||||||||||||||
| Overweight | Obesity | Extreme obesity | Overweight | Obesity | Extreme obesity | Overweight | Obesity | Extreme obesity | ||||||||||||
| 20 and over1 | 1988–1994 | 16,235 | 33.1 | (0.6) | 22.9 | (0.7) | 2.8 | (0.2) | 40.7 | (0.8) | 20.2 | (0.7) | 1.7 | (0.3) | 25.9 | (0.7) | 25.4 | (0.9) | 3.9 | (0.3) |
| 1999–2000 | 4,117 | 34.0 | (1.0) | 30.5 | (1.5) | 4.7 | (0.6) | 39.7 | (1.4) | 27.5 | (1.5) | 3.1 | (0.7) | 28.6 | (1.6) | 33.4 | (1.7) | 6.2 | (0.7) | |
| 2001–2002 | 4,413 | 35.1 | (1.1) | 30.5 | (1.1) | 5.1 | (0.5) | 42.2 | (1.3) | 27.7 | (1.0) | 3.6 | (0.6) | 28.2 | (1.7) | 33.2 | (1.5) | 6.5 | (0.6) | |
| 2003–2004 | 4,431 | 34.1 | (1.1) | 32.2 | (1.2) | 4.8 | (0.6) | 39.7 | (1.5) | 31.1 | (1.3) | 2.8 | (0.4) | 28.6 | (1.2) | 33.2 | (1.7) | 6.9 | (0.9) | |
| 2005–2006 | 4,356 | 32.6 | (0.8) | 34.3 | (1.4) | 5.9 | (0.5) | 39.9 | (1.3) | 33.3 | (2.0) | 4.2 | (0.5) | 25.5 | (1.2) | 35.3 | (1.4) | 7.4 | (0.7) | |
| 2007–2008 | 5,550 | 34.3 | (0.8) | 33.7 | (1.1) | 5.7 | (0.4) | 40.1 | (1.4) | 32.2 | (1.4) | 4.2 | (0.5) | 28.6 | (1.2) | 35.4 | (1.1) | 7.3 | (0.6) | |
| 2009–2010 | 5,926 | 33.0 | (1.0) | 35.7 | (0.9) | 6.3 | (0.2) | 38.4 | (1.1) | 35.5 | (1.7) | 4.4 | (0.3) | 27.9 | (1.4) | 35.8 | (0.9) | 8.1 | (0.5) | |
| 2011–2012 | 5,181 | 33.6 | (1.3) | 34.9 | (1.4) | 6.4 | (0.6) | 37.8 | (1.5) | 33.5 | (1.4) | 4.4 | (0.9) | 29.7 | (1.8) | 36.1 | (1.7) | 8.3 | (0.7) | |
| 2013–2014 | 5,455 | 32.5 | (0.8) | 37.7 | (0.9) | 7.7 | (0.7) | 38.7 | (1.2) | 35.0 | (1.1) | 5.5 | (0.6) | 26.5 | (0.8) | 40.4 | (1.3) | 9.9 | (0.9) | |
| 20–742 | 1960–1962 | 6,126 | 31.5 | (0.5) | 13.4 | (0.5) | 0.9 | (0.1) | 38.7 | (0.7) | 10.7 | (0.7) | *0.3 | (0.1) | 24.7 | (0.8) | 15.8 | (0.6) | 1.4 | (0.2) |
| 1971–1974 | 12,911 | 32.7 | (0.6) | 14.5 | (0.4) | 1.3 | (0.2) | 41.7 | (1.1) | 12.1 | (0.6) | 0.6 | (0.2) | 24.3 | (0.7) | 16.6 | (0.6) | 2.0 | (0.3) | |
| 1976–1980 | 11,765 | 32.1 | (0.6) | 15.0 | (0.4) | 1.4 | (0.1) | 39.9 | (0.8) | 12.7 | (0.6) | 0.4 | (0.1) | 24.9 | (0.8) | 17.0 | (0.6) | 2.2 | (0.3) | |
| 1988–1994 | 14,319 | 32.6 | (0.6) | 23.2 | (0.7) | 3.0 | (0.3) | 40.3 | (0.8) | 20.5 | (0.7) | 1.8 | (0.3) | 25.1 | (0.8) | 25.9 | (1.0) | 4.1 | (0.3) | |
| 1999–2000 | 3,603 | 33.6 | (1.1) | 30.9 | (1.6) | 5.0 | (0.6) | 39.2 | (1.5) | 27.7 | (1.6) | 3.3 | (0.7) | 28.0 | (1.7) | 34.0 | (1.8) | 6.6 | (0.8) | |
| 2001–2002 | 3,916 | 34.4 | (1.1) | 31.2 | (1.1) | 5.4 | (0.5) | 41.5 | (1.4) | 28.3 | (1.1) | 3.9 | (0.7) | 27.3 | (1.6) | 34.1 | (1.6) | 6.8 | (0.6) | |
| 2003–2004 | 3,756 | 33.4 | (1.2) | 32.9 | (1.3) | 5.1 | (0.6) | 39.4 | (1.5) | 31.7 | (1.4) | 3.0 | (0.4) | 27.3 | (1.3) | 34.0 | (1.9) | 7.3 | (1.0) | |
| 2005–2006 | 3,835 | 32.2 | (0.9) | 35.1 | (1.5) | 6.2 | (0.5) | 39.7 | (1.3) | 33.8 | (2.2) | 4.3 | (0.5) | 24.7 | (1.3) | 36.3 | (1.5) | 7.9 | (0.8) | |
| 2007–2008 | 4,876 | 33.6 | (0.8) | 34.3 | (1.2) | 6.0 | (0.4) | 39.4 | (1.4) | 32.5 | (1.5) | 4.4 | (0.5) | 27.9 | (1.2) | 36.2 | (1.3) | 7.6 | (0.6) | |
| 2009–2010 | 5,279 | 32.7 | (1.0) | 36.1 | (0.9) | 6.6 | (0.2) | 38.0 | (1.2) | 35.9 | (1.7) | 4.6 | (0.4) | 27.5 | (1.5) | 36.1 | (0.9) | 8.5 | (0.5) | |
| 2011–2012 | 4,674 | 33.3 | (1.4) | 35.3 | (1.4) | 6.6 | (0.6) | 37.3 | (1.5) | 33.9 | (1.5) | 4.5 | (1.0) | 29.5 | (2.0) | 36.6 | (1.6) | 8.6 | (0.7) | |
| 2013–2014 | 4,940 | 31.9 | (0.8) | 38.2 | (1.0) | 8.1 | (0.8) | 38.2 | (1.3) | 35.5 | (1.2) | 5.7 | (0.7) | 25.8 | (0.9) | 41.0 | (1.4) | 10.5 | (1.0) | |
* Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% but less than 40% and should be used with caution because it does not meet standards of reliability or precision.
1Age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Census Bureau estimates using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Crude estimates (not age-adjusted) for 2013–2014 are 32.7% for overweight, 37.9% for obesity, and 7.7% for extreme obesity categories.
2Age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Census Bureau estimates using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60–74. The 1960–1962 National Health Examination Survey included adults aged 18–79, and the 1971–1974 and 1976–1980 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys did not include individuals over age 74.
NOTES: Overweight is body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or greater but less than 30 kg/m2; obesity is BMI greater than or equal to 30; extreme obesity is BMI greater than or equal to 40. Pregnant females were excluded from the analysis.
SOURCES: NCHS, National Health Examination Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
| Survey period | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All adults | Men | Women | ||||||||||||||||
| 20–39 | 40–59 | 60 and over | 20–39 | 40–59 | 60 and over | 20–39 | 40–59 | 60 and over | ||||||||||
| 1988–1994 | 17.7 | (0.7) | 27.9 | (1.1) | 23.7 | (0.9) | 14.8 | (0.8) | 25.4 | (1.2) | 21.2 | (1.4) | 20.7 | (1.3) | 30.3 | (1.5) | 25.6 | (1.1) |
| 1999–2000 | 26.0 | (1.3) | 33.5 | (3.0) | 33.5 | (1.7) | 23.7 | (1.6) | 28.8 | (2.9) | 31.7 | (2.2) | 28.3 | (2.0) | 37.7 | (3.3) | 35.0 | (2.2) |
| 2001–2002 | 26.1 | (1.4) | 33.9 | (1.5) | 32.8 | (1.6) | 22.3 | (1.5) | 32.2 | (1.7) | 29.9 | (2.0) | 29.8 | (2.1) | 35.7 | (2.1) | 35.0 | (2.0) |
| 2003–2004 | 28.5 | (1.5) | 36.8 | (1.8) | 31.0 | (1.3) | 28.0 | (2.2) | 34.8 | (2.5) | 30.4 | (1.9) | 28.9 | (2.3) | 38.8 | (2.7) | 31.5 | (1.7) |
| 2005–2006 | 29.1 | (2.0) | 40.4 | (2.0) | 33.4 | (1.1) | 27.9 | (2.8) | 39.6 | (2.9) | 32.2 | (2.1) | 30.5 | (2.3) | 41.1 | (2.3) | 34.4 | (2.3) |
| 2007–2008 | 30.7 | (2.0) | 36.2 | (1.7) | 35.1 | (1.0) | 27.4 | (1.9) | 34.2 | (2.3) | 37.0 | (2.0) | 34.0 | (2.5) | 38.1 | (2.2) | 33.5 | (1.7) |
| 2009–2010 | 32.6 | (1.7) | 36.6 | (1.0) | 39.7 | (1.5) | 33.2 | (2.7) | 37.2 | (1.8) | 36.6 | (2.4) | 31.9 | (1.6) | 36.0 | (1.7) | 42.3 | (1.9) |
| 2011–2012 | 30.3 | (1.9) | 39.5 | (1.6) | 35.4 | (2.0) | 29.0 | (2.6) | 39.4 | (1.6) | 32.0 | (2.2) | 31.8 | (1.7) | 39.5 | (2.2) | 38.1 | (2.9) |
| 2013–2014 | 34.3 | (1.5) | 41.0 | (2.1) | 38.5 | (1.6) | 31.6 | (2.1) | 37.2 | (2.4) | 37.5 | (3.0) | 37.0 | (1.3) | 44.6 | (2.6) | 39.4 | (1.9) |
NOTES: Obesity is body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Pregnant females were excluded from the analysis.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
| Survey period | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-Hispanic white | Non-Hispanic black | Non-Hispanic Asian | Hispanic | Mexican American | Non-Hispanic white | Non-Hispanic black | Non-Hispanic Asian | Hispanic | Mexican American | |||||||||||
| 1988–1994 | 20.3 | (0.9) | 21.1 | (1.0) | — | — | 23.9 | (1.0) | 22.9 | (1.1) | 38.4 | (1.4) | — | — | 35.4 | (1.4) | ||||
| 1999–2000 | 27.3 | (1.8) | 27.9 | (1.6) | — | — | 28.9 | (1.9) | 30.1 | (2.1) | 49.5 | (3.0) | — | — | 39.5 | (3.9) | ||||
| 2001–2002 | 29.0 | (1.3) | 27.9 | (2.0) | — | — | 25.9 | (2.0) | 31.2 | (1.6) | 48.2 | (2.7) | — | — | 37.0 | (3.2) | ||||
| 2003–2004 | 31.1 | (1.5) | 34.0 | (3.5) | — | — | 31.6 | (2.5) | 30.2 | (2.1) | 53.9 | (3.0) | — | — | 42.3 | (2.7) | ||||
| 2005–2006 | 33.0 | (2.2) | 37.0 | (2.4) | — | — | 27.0 | (1.9) | 32.9 | (1.8) | 52.9 | (2.1) | — | — | 42.1 | (2.8) | ||||
| 2007–2008 | 31.9 | (1.9) | 37.2 | (2.5) | — | 34.2 | (3.0) | 35.8 | (3.5) | 33.0 | (1.8) | 49.4 | (2.0) | — | 43.0 | (2.6) | 45.1 | (3.1) | ||
| 2009–2010 | 36.2 | (2.1) | 38.8 | (2.3) | — | 37.0 | (2.2) | 38.6 | (2.4) | 32.2 | (1.4) | 58.5 | (2.8) | — | 41.4 | (2.0) | 44.9 | (1.6) | ||
| 2011–2012 | 32.4 | (1.3) | 37.1 | (1.9) | 10.0 | (1.6) | 40.1 | (2.1) | 44.0 | (2.6) | 32.8 | (2.7) | 56.6 | (2.1) | 11.4 | (2.2) | 44.4 | (2.1) | 49.2 | (3.4) |
| 2013–2014 | 34.7 | (1.6) | 38.0 | (2.5) | 12.6 | (1.8) | 37.9 | (2.8) | 42.2 | (2.5) | 38.2 | (1.6) | 57.2 | (1.7) | 12.4 | (2.1) | 46.9 | (2.7) | 50.9 | (3.1) |
— Data not available.
NOTES: Obesity is body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Census Bureau estimates using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. Pregnant females were excluded from the analysis.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
For more detailed estimates, see:
- Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999–2000. JAMA 288(14):1723–7. 2002.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004. JAMA 295(13):1549–55. 2006.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, McDowell MA, Flegal KM. Obesity among adults in the United States—No statistically significant change since 2003–2004 NCHS data brief, no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.
- Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999–2008. JAMA 303(3):235–41. 2010.
- Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. JAMA 307(5):491–7. 2012.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA 311(8):806–14. 2014.
- Flegal KM, Kruszon-Moran D, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Trends in obesity among adults in the United States, 2005 to 2014. JAMA 315(21):2284–91. 2016
This Health E-Stat supersedes the earlier versions below:
- Page last reviewed: July 18, 2016
- Page last updated: July 18, 2016
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