How Common Is Obesity? -- The Statistics
The following obesity statistics are based on 2003 to 2004 data:
- Adults age 20 and older who are overweight or obese: 66.3 percent (over 130 million Americans)
- Adults age 20 and older who are obese: 32.2 percent (over 60 million)
- Children age 6 to 11 who are overweight: 18.8 percent
- Children age 12 to 19 who are overweight: 17.4 percent.
Obesity Statistics by Gender
The following are obesity statistics by gender. This data comes from the NHANES 2000-2001 survey.
Men
- Men age 20 or older who are overweight: 67.2 percent (65.1 million Americans)
- Men age 20 or older who are obese: 27.5 percent (26.6 million)
- Men age 20 or older who are at a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25): 31.8 percent (30.6 million).
Women
- Women age 20 or older who are overweight: 61.9 percent (64.5 million)
- Women age 20 or older who are obese: 33.4 percent (34.7 million)
- Women age 20 or older who are at a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25): 35.3 percent (36.7 million).
Obesity Statistics by Ethnicity
The obesity statistics for minorities generally show higher rates of overweight and obesity, especially in women, when compared to whites in the United States. The following are the percentages of overweight women and men who are 20 years of age or older based on ethnicity.
Men
- Non-Hispanic black men: 60.7 percent
- Mexican-American men: 74.7 percent
- Non-Hispanic white men: 67.4 percent.
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