US Adult Obesity Prevalence Over 40%, Severe Obesity Over 9%

TOPLINE:
The prevalence of obesity among US adults is 40.3%, and the prevalence of severe obesity is 9.4%, according to the latest data (2021-2023) from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in its first update since the pandemic.
METHODOLOGY:
Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30, whereas severe obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 40.
Data from the August 2021–August 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate obesity and severe obesity prevalence and to test for differences between subgroups.
Data from four NHANES cycles (2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2017–March 2020, and August 2021–August 2023) were used to assess 10-year trends.
TAKEAWAY:
There were no significant differences in obesity prevalence between men and women, but severe obesity was higher among women than men across every age group.
Obesity prevalence was higher among adults aged 40-59 years (46.4%) than those aged 20-39 years (35.5%) and ≥ 60 years (38.9%).
Obesity prevalence was lower in adults with a bachelor’s or higher degree (31.6%) than in adults with less education, but no significant differences in obesity prevalence between men and women were seen based on education level.
From 2013-2014 through August 2021–August 2023, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in adults did not change significantly, while the age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity increased from 7.7% to 9.7%; changes in the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity between the two most recent survey cycles, March 2017–March 2020 and August 2021–August 2023, were not significant.
IN PRACTICE:
“In the United States, the prevalence of obesity in adults remains above the Healthy People 2030 goal of 36.0%,” the authors wrote. Samuel D. Emmerich of the NCHS added, “Obesity is complex; we cannot predict how it will change going forward, but we can continue to monitor these trends once we’ve collected the data.”
SOURCE:
Emmerich is lead author of the report, which was published online on September 22.
LIMITATIONS:
In this report, obesity is defined by BMI, which has its limitations. Body fat may vary by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin at a given BMI level. BMI does not measure body fat directly, nor does it provide information on body fat distribution.
DISCLOSURES:
The authors are NCHS employees. No funding or disclosures were reported.
 
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