Menu title: BMI: Body Mass Index


Overweight and Obesity
Obesity Trends

1991–2001 Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Adults, by Characteristics
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1991–2001);
Self-reported data

 
Prevalence is the number of obese individuals in the population divided by total number of individuals in the population.
   

In 2000, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults was 19.8 percent, which reflects a 61 percent increase since 1991.

In 2000, 38.8 million American adults met the classification of obesity, defined as having a body mass index, BMI score of 30 or more.

Between 2000 and 2001 obesity prevalence climbed from 19.8 percent of American adults to 20.9 percent of American adults.

Currently, more than 44 million Americans are considered obese by BMI index; that is, have a Body Mass Index (Kg/m2) greater than or equal to 30. This reflects an increase of 74 percent since 1991.

This table reflects the percentages of individuals who are obese within specific categories such as, gender, age, race, education, and smoking status.

Characteristics

  Percent Obese
BRFSS data by year:
1991 1995 1998 1999 2000 2001
Total 12.0 15.3 17.9 18.9 19.8 20.9
Gender            
Men 11.7 15.6 17.7 19.1 20.2 21.0
Women 12.2 15.0 18.1 18.6 19.4 20.8
Age groups            
18–29 7.1 10.1 12.1 12.1 13.5 14.0
30–39 11.3 14.4 16.9 18.6 20.2 20.5
40–49 15.8 17.9 21.2 22.4 22.9 24.7
50–59 16.1 21.6 23.8 24.2 25.6 26.1
60–69 14.7 19.4 21.3 22.3 22.9 25.3
>70 11.4 12.1 14.6 16.1 15.5 17.1
Race, ethnicity            
White, non Hispanic 11.3 14.5 16.6 17.7 18.5 19.6
Black, non Hispanic 19.3 22.6 26.9 27.3 29.3 31.1
Hispanic 11.6 16.8 20.8 21.5 23.4 23.7
Other 7.3 9.6 11.9 12.4 12.0 15.7
Educational Level            
Less than
 High School		 16.5 20.1 24.1 25.3 26.1 27.4
High school degree 13.3 16.7 19.4 20.6 21.7 23.2
Some college 10.7 15.1 17.8 18.1 19.5 21.0
College or above 8.0 11.0 13.1 14.3 15.2 15.7
Smoking status            
Never smoked 12.0 15.2 17.9 19.0 19.9 20.9
Ex-smoker 14.0 17.9 20.9 21.5 22.7 23.9
Current smoker 9.9 12.3 14.8 15.7 16.3 17.8


References

Mokdad AH, Serdula M, Dietz W, et al. The spread of the obesity epidemic in the United States, 1991–1998. JAMA 1999;282:1519–1522.

Modkad AH, Serdula M, Dietz W, et al. The continuing obesity epidemic in the United States. JAMA 2000;284:1650–1651.

Mokdad AH, Bowman BA, Ford ES, et al. The continuing epidemics of obesity and diabetes in the United States. JAMA 2001;286(10):1195–1200.

Mokdad AH, Bowman BA, Ford ES, et al. Prevelance of Obesity, Diabetes, and Obesity Related health Risk Factors, 2001. JAMA 2003:289;76–79.



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