FatRx · U.S. obesity data observatoryWeight, measured.

U.S. adult obesity from national examination surveys, state surveillance, and published randomized trials. Each value on this page links to the primary source it was read from.

Every figure source-linked

US adult obesity 40.3%

Severe obesity 9.4%

HP2030 goal 36.0%

Ages 40–59 46.4%

BRFSS Midwest 35.5%

BRFSS DC 24.2%

Key takeaways

Plain-English summary · every number sourced below

In Aug 2021–Aug 2023, 40.3% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older had obesity: a of 30 or higher.
Where we are ↓
Obesity was highest among adults aged 40–59 (46.4%). was higher in women (12.1%) than in men (6.7%).
Who is most affected ↓
Among adults aged 20–74, obesity rose from 13.4% in 1960–1962 to 42.8% in 2017–2018. For adults 20 and older, the change between the two most recent cycles, 2017–March 2020 and Aug 2021–Aug 2023, was not statistically significant.
How we got here ↓
In two separate placebo-controlled trials, average weight change was −14.9% with semaglutide vs −2.4% with placebo (STEP 1), and −20.9% with tirzepatide 15 mg vs −3.1% with placebo (SURMOUNT-1). They are not a head-to-head comparison.
What the research shows ↓

Where we are · Obesity prevalence today

NHANES · adults 20+ · measured BMI

What this showsIn the latest measured national survey (Aug 2021–Aug 2023), 40.3% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older had obesity and 9.4% had severe obesity. The Healthy People 2030 goal is 36.0%. Select any survey cycle on the long-run chart or its table and every panel below switches to that cycle's published values.

Viewing:Aug 2021–Aug 2023 · latest cycleDefault view. Select a cycle on the chart or table to update every panel.

Obesity · now

NHANES

Share of U.S. adults with a measured BMI of 30 or higher.

40.3%

SE 1.8n 5,929Aug 2021–Aug 2023crude

Data table · ten-year trend

Obesity, age-adjusted, adults 20+, percent.
Survey cycle	Obesity
2013–2014	37.7%
2015–2016	39.6%
2017–Mar 2020	41.9%
Aug 2021–Aug 2023	40.3%

Source: NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024 ↗

Severe obesity · now

NHANES

BMI of 40 or higher. It rose over the decade while overall obesity did not change significantly.

9.4%

Aug 2021–Aug 2023crude

Men · severe6.7%

Women · severe12.1%

Data table · ten-year trend

Severe obesity, age-adjusted, adults 20+, percent.
Survey cycle	Severe obesity
2013–2014	7.7%
2015–2016	7.7%
2017–Mar 2020	9.2%
Aug 2021–Aug 2023	9.7%

Source: NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024 ↗

Six decades

NHES · NHANES

Measured obesity among adults aged 20–74: first national exam survey vs. 2017–2018.

1960–1962

13.4%

→

2017–2018

42.8%

One column per survey, same age range

Data table · all surveys, ages 20–74

Obesity among adults aged 20–74, age-adjusted, percent.
Survey	Obesity, ages 20–74
1960–1962	13.4%
1971–1974	14.5%
1976–1980	15.0%
1988–1994	23.2%
1999–2000	30.9%
2001–2002	31.2%
2003–2004	32.9%
2005–2006	35.1%
2007–2008	34.3%
2009–2010	36.1%
2011–2012	35.3%
2013–2014	38.2%
2015–2016	40.0%
2017–2018	42.8%

Source: NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020 ↗

U.S. adult obesity · measured, long run

NHANES trend

Age-adjusted prevalence by survey cycle. Obesity rose from 1999–2000 through 2017–2018; the change from 2017–March 2020 to Aug 2021–Aug 2023 was not significant.

Obesity, 20+ Severe obesity, 20+ Obesity, ages 20–74 Post-pandemic cycle Healthy People 2030 goal

Data table · every survey cycle on this chart

Age-adjusted prevalence by survey cycle, percent. Healthy People 2030 goal: 36.0%.
Survey cycle	Obesity, 20+	Severe obesity, 20+	Obesity, ages 20–74
1960–1962	—	—	13.4%
1971–1974	—	—	14.5%
1976–1980	—	—	15.0%
1988–1994	22.9%	2.8%	23.2%
1999–2000	30.5%	4.7%	30.9%
2001–2002	30.5%	5.1%	31.2%
2003–2004	32.2%	4.8%	32.9%
2005–2006	34.3%	5.9%	35.1%
2007–2008	33.7%	5.7%	34.3%
2009–2010	35.7%	6.3%	36.1%
2011–2012	34.9%	6.4%	35.3%
2013–2014	37.7%	7.7%	38.2%
2015–2016	39.6%	7.7%	40.0%
2017–2018	42.4%	9.2%	42.8%
Aug 2021–Aug 2023	40.3%	9.7%	—

Source: NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020 ↗ · NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024 ↗

› Drill-downTap or click a survey cycle, or any point on the charts. The side panels switch to that cycle's published values.

Cyan = obesity · amber = severe obesity · ^A = ages 20–74 series, which NCHS uses to compare with surveys before 1988. Values age-adjusted to the U.S. Census 2000 population.

› Next NHANES releasePending NHANES data ↗

Obesity by age group · long run

NHANES

Estimates for every age group were higher in 2017–2018 than in 1988–1994; adults 20–39 started lowest.

Data table · obesity by age group

Obesity by age group, percent (adults 20+).
Survey cycle	Ages 20–39	Ages 40–59	Ages 60+
1988–1994	17.7%	27.9%	23.7%
1999–2000	26.0%	33.5%	33.5%
2001–2002	26.1%	33.9%	32.8%
2003–2004	28.5%	36.8%	31.0%
2005–2006	29.1%	40.4%	33.4%
2007–2008	30.7%	36.2%	35.1%
2009–2010	32.6%	36.6%	39.7%
2011–2012	30.3%	39.5%	35.4%
2013–2014	34.3%	41.0%	38.5%
2015–2016	35.7%	42.8%	41.0%
2017–2018	40.0%	44.8%	42.8%

Source: NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020 ↗

By age · now

NHANES

Highest among adults aged 40–59.

Ages 20–3935.5%

Ages 40–5946.4%

Ages 60+38.9%

Bar track = full population of each group

Severe obesity by age · now

NHANES

Higher at ages 20–39 and 40–59 than at 60 and older.

Ages 20–399.5%

Ages 40–5912.0%

Ages 60+6.6%

By sex · now

NHANES

No significant difference between men and women.

Men · obesity39.2%

Women · obesity41.3%

crude · Aug 2021–Aug 2023

By education · now

NHANES

Lower among adults with a bachelor's degree or more.

High school or less44.6%

Some college45.0%

Bachelor's or more31.6%

Who is most affected · Age, sex, education, states

NHANES panels above · BRFSS below

What this showsObesity was higher at ages 40–59 (46.4%) than at 20–39 (35.5%) or 60 and older (38.9%), and lower among adults with a bachelor's degree or more (31.6%); men (39.2%) and women (41.3%) did not differ significantly (by age, by sex, by education). In the state survey, which uses self-reported height and weight, the Midwest (35.5%) and South (34.8%) were highest, and DC (24.2%) was the only jurisdiction under 25%.

State surveillance · BRFSS · adults 18+ · self-reported

By region

BRFSS

Midwest and South report the highest prevalence.

Midwest35.5%

South34.8%

West30.7%

Northeast29.6%

Jurisdictions by prevalence band

BRFSS

Not a map: each square is one state, DC, or territory with data, grouped by obesity band. A state map is withheld because the latest year covers 47 states.

120 to <25%
DC

725 to <30%
states

1930 to <35%
states

2135 to <40%
states + GU, PR

0≥40%
none

By education

BRFSS

Self-reported: highest without a high school diploma, lowest among college graduates.

No HS diploma38.1%

HS diploma35.1%

Some college36.8%

College graduate27.8%

How we got here · The 60-year trend

NHES 1960–1962 → NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023

What this showsMeasured obesity among adults aged 20–74 rose from 13.4% in 1960–1962 to 42.8% in 2017–2018 (six decades). Among adults 20 and older it rose from 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, and from 2013–2014 to Aug 2021–Aug 2023 obesity did not change significantly while severe obesity increased from 7.7% to 9.7% (long-run chart, by age group).

Long-run checkpoints · measured

NHES · NHANES

Selected points from the long-run chart, in survey order. Every point is age-adjusted; the first point covers ages 20–74, the others adults 20 and older.

1960–196213.4%obesity · ages 20–74 · first national exam survey
1988–199422.9%obesity · severe 2.8%
1999–200030.5%obesity · continuous NHANES begins
2017–201842.4%obesity · severe 9.2%
Aug 2021–Aug 202340.3%obesity · severe 9.7% · latest

What the research shows · Trial data cards

Results as published · not head-to-head

What this showsEach card reports one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial as published: the average change in body weight in each group, with its . STEP 1 ran 68 weeks and SURMOUNT-1 ran 72 weeks with different participants and designs, so the two results are not a head-to-head comparison.

STEP 1 · semaglutide vs placebo

RCT

Mean change in body weight at week 68; the effect is the estimated difference between groups.

n 196168 wkrandomized 2:12.4 mg weeklydouble-blind

Adults with BMI ≥30 (≥27 with a weight-related condition), without diabetes; both groups received lifestyle intervention.

−12.4

percentage points
95% CI −13.4 to −11.5 · P<0.001

Week 68	Semaglutide	Placebo
Mean weight change	−14.9%	−2.4%
≥5% reduction	86.4%	31.5%
≥10% reduction	69.1%	12.0%
≥15% reduction	50.5%	4.9%

Estimand: effect regardless of treatment discontinuation or rescue interventions. Discontinued owing to GI events: 4.5% vs 0.8%. Funded by Novo Nordisk.

SURMOUNT-1 · tirzepatide vs placebo

RCT

Mean change in body weight at week 72 by dose, with the 95% CI for each group as published.

n 253972 wkrandomized 1:1:1:1double-blind

Adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related complication, excluding diabetes. Baseline mean weight 104.8 kg, BMI 38.0.

Data table · mean change and 95% CI by group

Mean percent change in body weight, baseline to week 72, with 95% CI.
Group	Mean change	CI low	CI high
5 mg	−15.0%	−15.9	−14.2
10 mg	−19.5%	−20.4	−18.5
15 mg	−20.9%	−21.8	−19.9
Placebo	−3.1%	−4.3	−1.9

Source: Jastreboff et al. · NEJM · 2022 (SURMOUNT-1) ↗

Week 72	5 mg	10 mg	15 mg	Placebo
≥5% reduction	85%	89%	91%	35%
≥20% reduction	n/r	50%	57%	3%
Stopped for AEs	4.3%	7.1%	6.2%	2.6%

Estimand: treatment-regimen, intention-to-treat. Includes a 20-week dose escalation. Supported by Eli Lilly.

Your numbers · Metabolic Scanner

Computed in your browser · nothing stored or sent

What this showsThe Metabolic Scanner estimates resting energy expenditure, the energy the body uses at rest, from sex, age, height and weight with the Mifflin–St Jeor equation. The equation was derived from 498 healthy adults aged 19–78; the result is an estimate, not a measurement.

Metabolic Scanner

Tool · Mifflin–St Jeor

Estimates resting energy expenditure from sex, age, height and weight with a published equation. It runs in your browser: inputs are not stored or sent anywhere.

Equation-based estimate of resting energy expenditure, not a measurement. Shown in kcal/day, rounded to the nearest 10.

How the estimate works

Method

The scanner applies the published equation below to the values you enter. It does not add activity, targets or advice.

Mifflin–St Jeor equation (published form)

REE_men = 10·kg + 6.25·cm − 5·yr +5
REE_women = 10·kg + 6.25·cm − 5·yr −161

Derived from 498 healthy adults aged 19–78 with REE measured by indirect calorimetry. US units are converted with exact definitions: 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 ft = 12 in. No activity adjustment is applied; the equation estimates resting expenditure only.

How we know · Methods

How to read these numbers

What this showsNational figures come from NHANES, where trained staff measure height and weight; state figures come from BRFSS telephone interviews with self-reported height and weight, so the two are not directly comparable. The survey schedule explains why the measured national series ends in August 2023.

Measured vs self-reported

Methods

National and state figures come from different surveys and are not directly comparable.

	NHANES	BRFSS
Height/weight	Measured by trained technicians in mobile examination centers	Self-reported in a telephone interview
Geography	National estimates	State, DC and territory estimates
Adults	Age 20 and older	Age 18 and older
Latest used	Aug 2021–Aug 2023	Calendar year 2025

Definitions

Methods

BMI is a screening measure; it does not measure body fat directly or show where fat is distributed.

BMI = body mass index: weight in kilograms ÷ height in meters squared (kg/m²); a screening measure
Obesity = BMI ≥ 30
Severe obesity = BMI ≥ 40
Age-adjusted = standardized to the U.S. Census 2000 population, so cycles with different age mixes compare fairly
Crude = not age-adjusted; describes the population as it is (the latest-cycle panels use crude values where marked)
Confidence interval (CI) = a range around an estimate that reflects sampling uncertainty; the trial cards show the 95% intervals as published, and a narrower interval means a more precise estimate

Source registry

Methods

Primary sources behind every value on this page. No modeled, estimated or placeholder numbers.

NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024open ↗
NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020open ↗
CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps · BRFSS 2025 · 2026open ↗
NCHS Data Brief No. 360 · NHANES · 2020open ↗
NCHS Data Brief No. 288 · NHANES · 2017open ↗
NCHS Data Brief No. 131 · NHANES · 2013open ↗
Wilding et al. · NEJM · 2021 (STEP 1)open ↗
Jastreboff et al. · NEJM · 2022 (SURMOUNT-1)open ↗
Mifflin & St Jeor et al. · Am J Clin Nutr · 1990open ↗
NCHS NHSR No. 158 · NHANES prepandemic files · 2021open ↗
NHANES 2017–March 2020 prepandemic documentation · NCHSopen ↗
NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 documentation · NCHSopen ↗
NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 examination data files · NCHSopen ↗
NHANES data documentation home · NCHSopen ↗
NHANES 2025–2027 examination data · NCHSopen ↗
NHANES History · CDC archive · 2015open ↗
CDC About BRFSS · 2024open ↗
CDC BRFSS Annual Survey Data · 2026open ↗
CDC Adult BMI Categoriesopen ↗
NIST SP 811 · Guide to the SI · Appendix B.8open ↗

Survey schedule and data gaps

Methods · NCHS / CDC

Why the measured national series ends in August 2023 and why the early decades have gaps. Dates as published by NCHS and CDC; each row links its source.

Separate surveys1960–1962 → 1988–1994

Before continuous NHANES, NCHS ran separate national examination surveys: NHES I (1960–1962), NHANES I (1971–1974), NHANES II (1976–1980) and NHANES III (1988–1994). The years between them have no adult points on the chart. Surveys before 1988 did not include adults over 74, so the long-run comparison uses ages 20–74.
The NHANES data page dates NHES I to 1959–1962; the E-Stat labels its data period 1960–1962.
SRC ›NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020 ↗NHANES History · CDC archive · 2015 ↗NHANES data documentation home · NCHS ↗
Continuous cycles1999–2000 → 2017–2018

NHANES has run as a continuous survey since 1999, with nationally representative data released in 2-year cycles, from 1999–2000 through 2017–2018.
SRC ›NCHS NHSR No. 158 · NHANES prepandemic files · 2021 ↗NCHS Health E-Stat · NHES/NHANES · 2020 ↗
Pandemic pauseMarch 2020

COVID-19 halted NHANES field operations in March 2020. The partial 2019–March 2020 data are not nationally representative on their own, so NCHS combined them with 2017–2018 to form the 2017–March 2020 prepandemic file.
SRC ›NCHS NHSR No. 158 · NHANES prepandemic files · 2021 ↗NHANES 2017–March 2020 prepandemic documentation · NCHS ↗
Latest published cycleAugust 2021–August 2023

Data collection began for a new 2-year cycle in August 2021. August 2021–August 2023 is the latest cycle with published measured data, and it is the endpoint of the national series on this page.
SRC ›NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 documentation · NCHS ↗NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024 ↗
Publication timingafter each cycle

Measured results are published after data collection ends. The August 2021–August 2023 cycle ended in August 2023; its body-measures data file and Data Brief 508 were both published in September 2024. For the prepandemic file, field operations stopped in March 2020 and NHSR 158 was published on June 14, 2021.
SRC ›NCHS Data Brief No. 508 · NHANES · 2024 ↗NHANES Aug 2021–Aug 2023 examination data files · NCHS ↗NCHS NHSR No. 158 · NHANES prepandemic files · 2021 ↗
No measured data yet2024–2026

No NHANES measured national estimates covering 2024–2026 have been published. The NHANES data site lists a 2025–2027 cycle; its examination data page says the datasets are not yet released.
SRC ›NHANES data documentation home · NCHS ↗NHANES 2025–2027 examination data · NCHS ↗
BRFSS, shown separatelyannual · 2025

BRFSS is a separate annual state telephone survey with self-reported height and weight; the latest year shown here is 2025. It has its own section on this page and is not directly comparable with NHANES.
SRC ›CDC About BRFSS · 2024 ↗CDC BRFSS Annual Survey Data · 2026 ↗CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps · BRFSS 2025 · 2026 ↗