Overweight and Obesity Statistics

Weight gain can be an ongoing struggle even when you do your best to eat well and exercise. Mixed messages about what’s healthy and the latest fad diets make it tricky to know how to stay in shape and eat the best foods for your body. But being overweight is about much more than numbers on a scale—it may make you more vulnerable to certain health conditions and can negatively impact your mental and emotional well-being.

Research reveals the link between obesity and the gut-brain connection. Gut microbiota (the microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal system), produce and regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate, which play an important role in the brain’s neurological function. For instance, studies have found imbalances of specific microbiota in people who experience depression and/or have obesity, while people with obesity are also at an increased risk for depression.

According to the annual State of Obesity report from Trust for America’s Health, as of 2023, 41.9 percent of adults are obese. In the 20 years since the report was first published, obesity rates in adults have increased by 37 percent and in children by 42 percent.

Overweight and obesity in America

Obesity is a disease based on body composition, levels of body fat, type of body fat (visceral and subcutaneous), and where the fat is, with visceral fat being the most concerning. Various factors influence weight gain and obesity, including genetics, health conditions, exercise, eating habits, proper sleep, education, and food costs. It can affect people of all ages, including children.

“Obesity is not just about having more body fat than is healthy. It’s classified as a disease, which means that it has detrimental health effects, raises the risk of other medical problems, and requires specific treatments,” says Cara Everett, a licensed dietician and registered dietician nutritionist. “A diagnosis of obesity is made when an adult has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or when a child has a weight-to-height ratio that is too high as measured against growth charts.”

Children and obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 14.7 million children and adolescents are obese. Proper nutrition in early childhood development is crucial, but research also connects infant sleep patterns with weight gain. The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that sleeping fewer than 12 hours per night for a baby’s first six months makes a child more likely to have obesity in the future. They also investigated the connection between sleep-wake patterns on the gut and the development of a child’s microbiome—specifically, its connection to infant weight gain. The microbiome refers to a specific community of microbes that inhabit different parts of your body and can influence health. Countless experiences affect the microbiome in toddlers, even birth, including “whether a child was born via C-section or not, whether the child was breastfed or bottle fed, and others,” says Inna Melamed, a doctor of pharmacy and a gut hormones expert.

CDC rate of obesity in children by age, 2017–2020

Toddlers (2-5 years)	Elementary-school age (6-11 years)	Adolescents and teens (12-19 years)
12.7 percent	20.7 percent	22.2 percent

Proper nutrition is essential during the formative years when children’s teeth and bones develop. Too much added sugar, commonly found in processed foods and drinks, increases the risk of dental decay, high blood pressure, and childhood obesity. Unfortunately, sugar-sweetened beverages often make up the highest proportion of sugar intake among children and adolescents. Obesity also puts children at risk for type 2 diabetes, liver disease, breathing problems (like obesity-related asthma), anxiety, and depression. Follow-up studies showed that children with obesity were more likely to experience cardiovascular and digestive diseases as adults, while they’re also at an increased risk for cancers, including breast, colon, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic. Additionally, childhood obesity impacts a child’s self-esteem and may even impact their performance in school.

Previous analyses of national data showed that the prevalence of childhood obesity was higher in lower-income groups. However, research shows that from 2010–2020, the prevalence of obesity declined across all racial and ethnic groups, from 15.9–14.4 percent, among children ages two to four in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In an effort to help families develop sustainable nutritional habits, the federal program offers financial assistance to help low-income women and children buy food, along with providing access to health education, nutritional counseling, and other programs.

Teens and adolescents

Many teens and adolescents struggle to lose weight but are resistant to alter their lifestyles, often due to peer pressure, family behaviors, or their environment. Research shows that obesity increases the risk of going into early puberty in children and menstrual irregularities in girls and also raises the risk of eating disorders.

While multiple factors can cause obesity, research shows that adolescents tend to exercise less than in the past and currently spend more time sitting in front of electronic devices. Over the decades, the types and frequency of exercise have also changed. In the late 1960s, 42 percent of children walked or rode a bike to school, compared to only 16 percent today.

Here are some statistics showing the prevalence and consequences of obesity in children and teens:

• One in seven children age two to five has obesity.
• From 2021–2022, 17 percent of youths age 10–17 had obesity.
• One out of every six adolescents is classified as overweight.
• Roughly one in 16 children age two to 19 has severe obesity (a body mass index of 120–140 percent of the 95th percentile).
• Children who are overweight in kindergarten are four times more likely to have obesity in eighth grade.
• The majority of children and adolescents (57 percent) are predicted to be obese by 2050 if current trends continue.
• Children with obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults.
• Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the last 30 years.

Adult obesity in America

Since children are continually growing, their BMI is calculated compared to other children of the same age and sex, putting them in a percentile. Defining obesity in adults is slightly different than in children, but both are based on a person’s BMI. Adults are considered obese when their weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height. However, it’s important to note that calculating whether a person’s weight is healthy with the BMI scale has limitations. For instance, BMI doesn’t consider factors like sex (women tend to have more body fat than men), and doesn’t distinguish between the weight of muscle and fat, or where body fat is located.

Data from 2022 show that the prevalence of adult obesity is more than 35 percent in 22 states, whereas in 2022, it was only 19 states. Only 10 years ago, no state had an obesity prevalence above 35 percent.

CDC rates of obesity in adults by age, as of 2021

Adults 20-39	Adults 40-59	60-plus
39.8 percent	44.3 percent	41.5 percent

Here’s a breakdown of obesity in adults by sex, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:

	Overweight	Obese, plus severe obesity	Severe obesity
Everyone	30.7 percent	42.4 percent	9.2 percent
Man	34.1 percent	43 percent	6.9 percent
Women	27.5 percent	42.9 percent	11.5 percent

Obesity in the United States is considered a public health crisis as it increases the risk for diseases in people who have obesity and puts a strain on the health care system ($173 billion per year). People with obesity are more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, joint problems, liver disease, gallstones, sleeping and breathing problems, some cancers, depression, and anxiety. People with obesity also report a higher prevalence of social stigma regarding their weight.

Obesity geography statistics

CDC 2022 data reveal that 22 states have an obesity rate above 35 percent, with all U.S. states showing an obesity prevalence higher than 20 percent.

Findings show that the highest prevalence of obesity is in the following states:

• West Virginia: 41 percent.
• Louisiana: 40.1 percent.
• Oklahoma: 40 percent.
• Mississippi: 39.5 percent.

The states with the lowest prevalence are:

• Washington, D.C.: 24.3 percent.
• Colorado: 25 percent.
• Hawaii: 25.9 percent.

Contributing factors of obesity facts

Long thought to be primarily behavioral, obesity is now recognized as a disease that is founded in economic, health, and environmental inequities. For instance, one study found that the prevalence of obesity was higher among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic boys age two to 19 than among caucasian and Asian children and adolescent boys, with similar findings in girls.

“While many factors influence a person’s risk of obesity, some of the biggest contributors are consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and added sugars, low levels of physical activity, and socioeconomic status,” says Cara Everett, a licensed dietician and registered dietician nutritionist. “For example, we know that people who live in areas without access to affordable, healthy foods and safe places to exercise have a much harder time maintaining a healthy weight.”

Research has shown that increased BMI is associated with decreased income. Studies also indicate that Black women have the greatest prevalence of obesity at 56.9 percent of U.S. adults.

Other factors include:

• Genetics.
• Health conditions like Cushing’s disease, metabolic syndrome, and polycystic ovary.
• Eating habits.
• Poor sleep.
• Low education level.
• Food costs.
• Medications like antidepressants, steroids, diabetes meds, and heartburn medicines.
• A sedentary lifestyle.
• Stress and depression.

To boost energy levels and lower the risk for other health issues, Everett recommends eating nutrient-dense foods (such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins), avoiding foods with 3 grams of added sugar per serving, and getting 30 minutes of exercise daily, like walking. Sleep is also critical to overall health.

“Address your sleep patterns and stress levels. Lack of sleep and chronic stress can keep blood levels of cortisol high, which leads to overeating and weight gain. If you’re having a hard time sleeping or you struggle with stress in your life, talk to your health care provider or a therapist about coping strategies,” she says.

Our final verdict

The World Obesity Atlas predicts that within the next 12 years, more than half of the population will be overweight. Ultimately, the reasons for being overweight are layered, but prevention is key. “Treating obesity isn’t just about eating less or exercising more—it takes a holistic approach aimed at wellness for your whole body and mind,” says Everett. This includes taking steps as a society to make healthier foods more accessible by funding programs that support healthy eating, supporting services that cater to lower-income families, emphasizing nutrition and exercise in schools, and promoting better sleep and stress management.

Last updated or reviewed on June 12, 2024