In the 30 years from 1988 to 2018, the rate of underweight has generally decreased with the largest decline seen among U.S. adults 60 years and above. In 2017-2018, underweight was most prevalent among adults 20-39 years old. This statistic presents the prevalence of underweight (BMI less than 18.5kg/m2) among U.S. adults from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018, by age.

In 2024, roughly 48 percent of U.S. adults considered their weight to be about right, while around 43 percent stated they were overweight, and only eight percent said they were underweight. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. adults who described their weight as about right, overweight, or underweight from 1990 to 2024.

In 2017-2018, being underweight was more prevalent among women than men in the United States. This gender gap has decreased in the past 30 years. This statistic presents the prevalence of underweight (BMI less than 18.5kg/m2) among U.S. adults from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018, by gender.

In 2024, roughly 48 percent of U.S. men and 61 percent of women stated they wanted to lose weight. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. adults who wanted to lose weight from 1951 to 2024, by gender.

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.

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 2019-2021, around 25 percent of adults in the United States who were considered obese had doctor-diagnosed arthritis in some form, compared to nearly 15 percent of those who were underweight or of healthy weight. This statistic displays the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis in the adult population in the United States in 2019-2021, by weight status.

As of 2023, the age category with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexico was the group of adults between 40 and 59 years of age. That year, approximately 75 percent of adult respondents were estimated to suffer from overweight or obesity. The same study found that over 74 percent of adults over 60 years of age in the North American country had overweight or obesity. A body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m² is considered overweight.

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.