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.

In 2023, around 49 percent of all Black adults in Louisiana were obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Louisiana in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, some 42 percent of the adult Black population in West Virginia were obese. Being obese tends to run within families and the likelihood for children to be overweight or obese increases if the parent has weight problems. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in West Virginia in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

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.

In 2023, around 43 percent of all Black adults in Virginia were obese. Children are often the principal target for fast food advertisements, which can influence their food choices and diet. Childhood obesity is an ever-increasing problem worldwide. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Virginia in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

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.

In 2023, around 41 percent of all Black adults in Maryland were obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Maryland in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 37 percent of all adult Hispanics in Connecticut were obese. Prevention of being obese can be undertaken through health eating of more fruits and vegetables and little to no total fats and sugars. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Connecticut in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 39 percent of all Black adults in Washington were obese. Being obese can increase the risk of a variety of health problems including heart disease and diabetes. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in the State of Washington in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, some 48 percent of all Black adults in Mississippi were obese. Extra weight due to being obese can put extra strain on joints which can lead to osteoarthritis. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Mississippi in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 47 percent of all adult Hispanics in North Carolina were obese. Gaining weight occurs when a person intakes more energy in calories than one uses. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in North Carolina in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, some 13 percent of the white population in the District of Columbia was obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in the District of Columbia in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 27 percent of all white adults in Massachusetts were obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Massachusetts in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 31 percent of all adult Hispanics in Colorado were obese. Being obese can be battled through healthy eating with increased fruit and vegetable consumption and limited intake of total fats and sugars. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Colorado in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 44 percent of all Black adults in Michigan were obese. Being obese can increase the likelihood of a plaque buildup within the arteries which can increase the chances of a stroke. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Michigan in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 37 percent of adult Hispanics in Arizona were obese. The risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes increases in those who are obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Arizona in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

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.

In 2023, around 39 percent of all adult Hispanics in Illinois were obese. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Illinois in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 47 percent of all Black adults in South Carolina were obese. The desire for fast and convenient foodstuffs can hinder people from eating healthy diets, especially with the lack of nutrition in many processed foods. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in South Carolina in 2023, by race/ethnicity.

In 2023, around 51 percent of Black adults in Arkansas were obese. Although once believed to be primarily a developed world issue, obesity is becoming more of a problem in developing nations as well. This statistic depicts the obesity rates for adults in Arkansas in 2023, by race/ethnicity.