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Obesity Rates

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Adult Overweight & obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes adult obesity and overweight as weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height. 1  Body Mass Index (BMI)  is used to screen for overweight or obesity in adulthood.   1

Overweight is classified as a BMI of 25.0 to <30.   1

Obesity is classified as a BMI of 30.0 or higher.   1

Severe obesity is classified as a BMI of 40.0 or higher.   1

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Statistics

  • 42.4% of US adults had obesity in 2017-18.   2
  • 9.2% of US adults had severe obesity in 2017-18.   2
  • 40.0% of US young adults aged 20-39 had obesity in 2017-18.   2
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Trend1

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Figure 1: Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among U.S. Adults by State and Territory, BRFSS, 2019.  

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps

All states and territories reported more than 20% of adults with obesity.  3 Twelve states reported 35% or more adults with obesity.3The South   (33.3%) and Midwest (33.9%) had the highest prevalence of obesity, followed by the Northeast (29.0%), and the West (27.4%).   3

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High-Risk Populations

  • 44.8% of middle-aged adults aged 40-59 had obesity in 2017-18. This was the highest prevalence among all age groups.   2
  • 44.8% of Hispanic adults and 49.6% of non-Hispanic black adults aged 20 and over had obesity in 2017-18. Both groups had higher prevalence compared to non-Hispanic white (42.2%) and non-Hispanic Asian (17.4%) adults.2
  • 56.9% of non-Hispanic black women had obesity in 2017-18, which was higher than any other group.2   
  • Approximately 50% of women who delivered a live-born infant in 2014 were either overweight (25.6%) or had obesity (24.8) before becoming pregnant.   4
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Trend2

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Figure 2: Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among Non-Hispanic Black Adults by State and Territory, BRFSS, 2017-19.  

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps

Data collected between 2017-2019 found that over 35% of non-Hispanic black adults residing in 34 states and the District of Columbia reported an obesity prevalence of 35% or higher. 3

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Childhood Obesity

The CDC uses the body mass index (BMI) measure to determine childhood overweight and obesity. 5 Overweight is classified as being at or above the 85th   percentile but below the 95th   percentile for both children and teens of the same age and sex.5 Children and teens of the same age and sex who have a BMI at or above the 95th   percentile are considered obese.   5

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Statistics

  • 18.5% of children and adolescents had obesity in 2015-16.   6
  • Obesity prevalence was 13.9% among ages 2-5, 18.4% among ages 6-11, and 20.6% among ages 12-19 in 2015-16.6
  • 25.8% Hispanic and 22.0% of non-Hispanic black youth had obesity. Both groups had higher prevalence compared to    non-Hispanic white (14.1%)   and non-Hispanic Asian (11.0%) youth.6

The consequences of childhood obesity include greater risk for: 7

  • High blood pressure and high cholesterol , Type II diabetes   , breathing problems, such as asthma   and sleep apnea ,    joint    problems and musculoskeletal disorders,    fatty    liver disease,    gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux.   8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
  • Some children with obesity experience mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life and social problems such as bullying and stigma. 14, 15, 16
  • Children with obesity are likely to carry it into adulthood. Obesity in adulthood is associated with increased risk for various chronic diseases. 17, 18

Trend3

Figure 3: Childhood Obesity 

Source: Dr. J. Renae Gordon

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References

  1. Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity. cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html. Updated September 17, 2020. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  2. Hales, CM, Carroll, MD, Fryar, CD, Ogden, CL. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015-2016.  National Center for Health Statistics.  2020;360. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db360-h.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  3. Adult Overweight and Obesity Maps. cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html. Updated September 17, 2020. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  4. Branum, A, Kirmeyer, SE, Gregory, EC. Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index by Maternal Characteristics and State: Data From the Birth Certificate, 2014.  National Vital Statistics Reports.  2016;65(6), 1-11.
  5. Defining Childhood Obesity. cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/defining.html. Updated July 3, 2018. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  6. Hales, CM, Carroll, MD, Fryar, CD, Ogden, CL. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015-2016.  National Center for Health Statistics.  2017;288. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db288.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  7. Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences. cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html. Updated September 2, 2020. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  8. Africa, JA, Newton, KP, Schwimmer, JB. Lifestyle interventions Including Nutrition, Exercise, and Supplements for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children.  Digestive Diseases and Sciences.  2016;61:1375-1386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-016-4126-1. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  9. Cote, AT, Harris, KC, Panagiotopoulos, C, Sandor, GG, Devlin AM. Childhood Obesity and Cardiovascular Dysfunction.  Journal of the American College of Cardiology.  2013;62(15), 1309-1319. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2013.07.042. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  10. Lloyd, LJ, Langley-Evans, SC, McMullen, S. Childhood Obesity and Risk of the Adult Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review.  International Journal of Obesity (2005).  2012;36(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.186. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  11. Mohanan, S, Tapp, H, McWilliams, A, Dulin, M. Obesity and Asthma: Pathophysiology and Implications for Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care.  Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, NJ).  2014;239(11), 1531-1540. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370214525302. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  12. Narang, I, Mathew, JL. Childhood Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism.  2012;2012(Article ID: 134202). https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/134202. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  13. Pollock, NK. Childhood Obesity, Bone Development, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.  Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.  2015;410, 52-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2015.03.016. Accessed on September 20, 2020.
  14. Beck, AR. Psychosocial Aspects of Obesity.  NASN school nurse (Print).  2016:31(1), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X15619756. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  15. Halfon, N, Larson, K, Slusser, W. Associations Between Obesity and Comorbid Mental Health, Developmental, and Physical Health Conditions in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Children Aged 10 to 17.  Academic Pediatrics.  2013;12(1), 6-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2012.10.007. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  16. Morrison, KM, Shin, S, Tarnopolsky, M, Taylor, VH. Association of Depression & Health Related Quality of Life with Body Composition in Children and Youth with Obesity.  Journal of Affective Disorders.  2015;172, 18-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.09.014. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  17. Bass, R, Eneli, I. Severe childhood obesity: an under-recognised and growing health problem.  Post Graduate Medical Journal.  2015:91:639-645. https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-133033. Accessed September 20, 2020.
  18. Gordon-Larsen, P, The, NS, Adair, LS. Longitudinal Trends in Obesity in the United States From Adolescence to the Third Decade of Life.  Obesity.  2010;18(9), 1801-1804. . Accessed September 20, 2020.
  19. Jensen, MD, Ryan, DH, Apovian, CM, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Managements of Overweight and Obesity in Adults; A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Obesity Society.  Circulation.  2014;129(25 Suppl 2), S102-S138. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000437739.71477.ee. Accessed September 20, 2020.
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