Obesity is associated with increased CV risk. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES; 2003-2012), we estimated frequency and prevalence of obesity in U.S. adults (≥20 years).
Participants in 5 NHANES surveys with fasting blood serum data (n=11,256) were pooled and categorized as overweight, obese, or morbidly obese (BMI 25-29.9, 30-39.9, or ≥40 kg/m2, respectively). Results are stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity. Extrapolations to the U.S. adult population were performed using the direct method to the 2011-2012 U.S. Census.
Proportion of U.S. adults categorized as ≥overweight is high, irrespective of age, sex, or ethnicity (Table). Obesity prevalence is high in adults aged 20-39 years (30% of men and 33% of women) and those aged ≥60 years (35% of men and 38% of women). In men, obesity/morbid obesity prevalence is similar between ethnic groups. However, non-Hispanic black women have a higher prevalence of obesity/morbid obesity than Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Prevalence of ≥overweight is highest in Hispanic men and women aged ≥60 years, and non-Hispanic black women.
Estimated number and percentage of US adults categorized as overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity (pooled data across five surveys from 2003–2012) | |||
BMI category | Men (n=107.2 M) | Women (n=116.8 M) | |
Prevalence (n) | Prevalence (n) | ||
Overweight/ obese/ morbidly obese (≥25 kg/m2) | All | 73% (78.2 M) | 65% (76.0 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 74% (53.5 M) | 63% (48.2 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 70% (7.9 M) | 82% (11.9 M) | |
Hispanic | 78% (12.3 M) | 75% (12.1 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 65% (26.0 M) | 58% (23.7 M) | |
40–59 | 79% (32.6 M) | 68% (29.4 M) | |
≥60 | 75% (19.5 M) | 71% (23.2 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 79% (1.5 M) | 83% (2.0 M) | |
Obese/ morbidly obese (≥30 kg/m2) | All | 34% (36.4 M) | 37% (43.2 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 35% (25.3 M) | 34% (26.0 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 37% (4.2 M) | 58% (8.4 M) | |
Hispanic | 35% (5.5 M) | 42% (6.8 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 30% (12.0 M) | 33% (13.5 M) | |
40–59 | 38% (15.7 M) | 39% (16.9 M) | |
≥60 | 36% (9.4 M) | 38% (12.4 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 41% (0.8 M) | 45% (1.1 M) | |
Morbidly obese (≥40 kg/m2) | All | 5% (5.4 M) | 9% (10.5 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 5% (3.6 M) | 8% (6.1 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 8% (0.9 M) | 17% (2.5 M) | |
Hispanic | 4% (0.6 M) | 7% (1.1 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 5% (2.0 M) | 8% (3.3 M) | |
40–59 | 5% (2.1 M) | 10% (4.3 M) | |
≥60 | 5% (1.3 M) | 7% (2.3 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 4% (0.1 M) | 6% (0.1 M) |
Estimated number and percentage of US adults categorized as overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity (pooled data across five surveys from 2003–2012) | |||
BMI category | Men (n=107.2 M) | Women (n=116.8 M) | |
Prevalence (n) | Prevalence (n) | ||
Overweight/ obese/ morbidly obese (≥25 kg/m2) | All | 73% (78.2 M) | 65% (76.0 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 74% (53.5 M) | 63% (48.2 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 70% (7.9 M) | 82% (11.9 M) | |
Hispanic | 78% (12.3 M) | 75% (12.1 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 65% (26.0 M) | 58% (23.7 M) | |
40–59 | 79% (32.6 M) | 68% (29.4 M) | |
≥60 | 75% (19.5 M) | 71% (23.2 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 79% (1.5 M) | 83% (2.0 M) | |
Obese/ morbidly obese (≥30 kg/m2) | All | 34% (36.4 M) | 37% (43.2 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 35% (25.3 M) | 34% (26.0 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 37% (4.2 M) | 58% (8.4 M) | |
Hispanic | 35% (5.5 M) | 42% (6.8 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 30% (12.0 M) | 33% (13.5 M) | |
40–59 | 38% (15.7 M) | 39% (16.9 M) | |
≥60 | 36% (9.4 M) | 38% (12.4 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 41% (0.8 M) | 45% (1.1 M) | |
Morbidly obese (≥40 kg/m2) | All | 5% (5.4 M) | 9% (10.5 M) |
Ethnicity | |||
Non-Hispanic white | 5% (3.6 M) | 8% (6.1 M) | |
Non-Hispanic black | 8% (0.9 M) | 17% (2.5 M) | |
Hispanic | 4% (0.6 M) | 7% (1.1 M) | |
Age (years) | |||
20–39 | 5% (2.0 M) | 8% (3.3 M) | |
40–59 | 5% (2.1 M) | 10% (4.3 M) | |
≥60 | 5% (1.3 M) | 7% (2.3 M) | |
Hispanic aged ≥60 years | 4% (0.1 M) | 6% (0.1 M) |
In the U.S. adult population, obesity levels remain high, irrespective of age, sex, and ethnicity. Overall, 73% of men and 65% of women were categorized as overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. There is a need for effective preventive interventions to reduce the burden of obesity.
P.P. Toth: Speaker's Bureau; Self; Amarin Corporation. Consultant; Self; Amarin Corporation. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Amgen Inc.. Consultant; Self; Amgen Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.. Consultant; Self; Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.. Consultant; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Consultant; Self; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Sanofi US, Novo Nordisk Inc. M. Palmer: Other Relationship; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH.