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/m2All 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/m2All 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/m2All 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/m2All 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/m2All 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/m2All 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.

Disclosure

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.

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