In 2023, Black adults had the highest obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. As of that time, around 42 percent of all Black adults were obese. Asians/Pacific Islanders had by far the lowest obesity rates. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a present and growing problem in the United States. An astonishing 33 percent of the adult population in the U.S. is now considered obese. Obesity rates can vary substantially by state, with around 41 percent of the adult population in West Virginia reportedly obese, compared to 25 percent of adults in Colorado. The states with the highest rates of obesity include West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Diabetes Being overweight and obese can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Being overweight or obese is one of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise. It is estimated that just over eight percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is now the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for three percent of all deaths.

About a fifth of Hispanic high school students in the United States were overweight between 2016 and 2017, making it the ethnic group with the highest percentage of overweight high school students. Female obesity rates were considerably higher than those of male students for the black and Hispanic groups during the measured period.

Overweight and obese U.S. adults

U.S. overweight rates in adults differed slightly from those of U.S. high school students in 2017. That year, the African American population had the highest overweight and obesity rates of any race or ethnicity, closely followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. Over 73 percent of all African American adults in the country were either overweight or obese. In 2018, the highest rates of obesity among African Americans could be found in states, such as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

Overweight youth worldwide

Many children and adolescents in other countries, such as New Zealand, Greece, and Italy, also struggle with overweight and obesity. In New Zealand, for example, over forty percent of boys and girls, up to age 19, were overweight or obese in 2016. In the same year, less than ten percent of Indian children and teenagers were overweight.

From 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of severe obesity in the U.S. was highest among non-Hispanic blacks. This statistic shows the age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity among U.S. adults aged 20 and over from 2017 to March 2020, by race/ethnicity.

In 2019, 39.1 percent of non-Hispanic black women in the U.S. were obese prior to pregnancy, compared to 36.4 percent in 2016. This statistic illustrates the percentage of women experiencing prepregnancy obesity in the United States from 2016 to 2019, by maternal race and Hispanic origin.

Roughly 15 percent of U.S. high school students from grades 9 to 12, across all genders and ethnicities, were obese between 2016 and 2017. On average, African and Hispanic students struggled more with obesity than white students. Over 22 percent of male students with a Hispanic background were reported to be obese.

Prevalence among adults

Obesity is a growing problem among all age groups in the United States. Among American adults aged 20 and over, obesity rates have risen considerably since 1997. By 2018, roughly 12 percent more adults were obese, compared to 21 years earlier.

Fast food industry

Unhealthy ingredients, larger portions, and lower cost are some of the reasons why fast food easily leads to obesity in the United States. Between 2004 and 2018, U.S. consumer spending in quick-service restaurants has increased by approximately 37.5 percent. Examples of leading restaurant chains within this sector, in terms of company value, are McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza.

In 2023, around 36 percent of all adult Hispanics in Texas were obese. In the United States, processed foods are often cheaper than fresh foods, which can impact those with lower income and lead to more weight gain. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Texas in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the U.S. states with the highest percentage of their population who are obese. The states with the lowest percentage of their population who are obese include Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world, but the United States has the highest rate of obesity among all OECD countries. The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen steadily over the previous two decades, with no signs of declining. Obesity in the U.S. is more common among women than men, and overweight and obesity rates are higher among African Americans than any other race or ethnicity. Causes and health impacts Obesity is most commonly the result of a combination of poor diet, overeating, physical inactivity, and a genetic susceptibility. Obesity is associated with various negative health impacts, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and diabetes type 2. As of 2022, around 8.4 percent of the U.S. population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

In 2023, some 43 percent of all Black adults in Georgia were obese. Childhood obesity in the United States is also on the rise, with affected children more likely to remain obese as adults. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Georgia in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

Between 2017 and 2021, the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States was among Black individuals, with a rate of 184.8 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by race and ethnicity.

From 2017 to 2018, around 27 percent of Mexican American children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years were obese. This statistic illustrates the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States aged 2–19 years from 1988 to 2018, by ethnicity.

In 2023, around 43 percent of all adult Hispanics in Oklahoma were obese. Certain environments in the United States may encourage an unhealthy lifestyle that leads to obesity. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Oklahoma in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

This statistic depicts the percentage of U.S. metropolitan and nonmetropolitan populations that were obese as of 2016, by ethnicity. According to the data, among metropolitan populations, around 37.7 percent of black, non-Hispanic residents were obese.

From 2017 to March 2020, the obesity prevalence among Hispanic men was around 45 percent. This statistic represents the obesity prevalence among adults aged 20 and older in the United States from 2017 to March 2020, sorted by gender and race/ethnicity.

From 2019 to 2021, obesity among pregnant women in the United States was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native women and Black women. This statistic depicts the percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity.

The prevalence of obesity among adults of all ethnicities in the United States has increased in the last three decades. Roughly half of all non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American adults were obese in 2017-2018. This statistic presents the prevalence of obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m2 and over) among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018, by ethnicity.

In 2023, around 36 percent of Hispanic adults in Puerto Rico were considered obese. Being obese can increase one's chances of developing a number of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Obesity The mean target body mass index among all people is said to be around 18.5 to 24.9 with anything over this number being considered overweight or obese. Several diseases may occur as a result of being overweight or obese. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke are some of the common diseases that are caused by or worsened by weight gain and obesity. The United States has higher rates of obesity among both men and women compared to other OECD countries. Obesity-related Hispanic health Diabetes is a prevalent health issue among the Hispanic community. Diabetes is among the top 10 leading causes of death among Hispanics in the United States. Hispanics in the U.S. are more likely to die from diabetes than white U.S. residents.

This statistic displays the obesity rate among boys aged between 2 and 19 years in the United States from 2011 to 2014, sorted by ethnicity. In that time, five percent of white boys were reported to be extremely obese, compared to 8.9 percent of black boys.

From 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolecents aged 2 to 19 years in the U.S. was highest among non-Hispanic black girls. This statistic shows the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolecents from 2017 to March 2020, by gender and race/ethnicity.

This statistic depicts the obesity rate of children in the United States in 2015-2016 by ethnicity. In that time, 25.8 percent of Latino children in the United States were obese. Overweight and obesity can increase risk of developing many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

From 2021 to 2023, the obesity prevalence among the total U.S. population aged 20 and older was around 40 percent. This statistic shows the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20 and older in the United States from 2021 to 2023, by gender and age group.