What are overweight and obesity?
People whose weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height are described as having overweight or obesity.1 Overweight and obesity can increase your risk for many health problems.
Body mass index
Overweight and obesity are defined by body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measurement that uses your weight and height to estimate overweight and obesity. The table below shows BMI ranges for overweight and obesity in adults ages 20 and older.
BMI of adults ages 20 and older
BMI | Category |
|---|---|
18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight |
25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
30+ | Obesity (including severe obesity) |
40+ | Severe obesity |
Calculate your BMI with this online tool NIH external link.
How common are overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are common among U.S. adults ages 20 and older. According to estimates based on data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)2
- nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) have overweight
- more than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity, including about 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) with severe obesity
- nearly 3 in 4 adults (73.1%) have overweight or obesity
More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults have obesity.
Sex
Men are more likely than women to have overweight or obesity. Among adults ages 20 and older, 77.1% of men and 69.4% of women have overweight or obesity.2 But severe obesity, or having a BMI greater than 40, is more common among women (11.5%) than men (6.9%).
Race and ethnicity
Overweight and obesity rates also vary among racial and ethnic groups. According to 2017–2018 NHANES data, obesity affects2
- nearly 1 in 2 non-Hispanic Black adults (49.6%)
- more than 2 in 5 Hispanic adults (44.8%)
- more than 2 in 5 non-Hispanic White adults (42.2%)
- more than 1 in 6 non-Hispanic Asian adults (17.4%)
Other groups
Overweight and obesity also vary among other groups. For example, obesity is more common among people in rural areas than among those who live in urban areas.3
References
[1] Assessing your weight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated June 3, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024. www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.html External link
[2] Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 1960–1962 through 2017–2018. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 8, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2023. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-adult-17-18/obesity-adult.htm External link
[3] Hales CM, Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Freedman DS, Aoki Y, Ogden CL. Differences in obesity prevalence by demographic characteristics and urbanization level among adults in the United States, 2013–2016. JAMA. 2018;319(23):2419–2429. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.7270