Obesity in the United States

Obesity in the United States is a major health issue resulting in numerous diseases, specifically increased risk of certain types of cancer, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, as well as significant increases in early mortality and economic costs.

Obesity collage

Obesity and overweight status - USA

Obesity and overweight status are growing health concerns in the United States. The ramifications of these conditions span across various health, social, and economic dimensions. This article provides insights and statistics on the prevalence and implications of overweight and obesity within the U.S.

Adult Obesity in the United States

As of the data collected between 2009-2010, approximately 35.9% of adults aged 20 years and over are classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When combining both overweight and obesity categories, this percentage rises to a staggering 69.2% of all adults.

Childhood Obesity in the USA

Childhood obesity has also seen alarming rates. Based on the CDC's 2009-2010 data:

Obesity map

• 18.4% of adolescents aged 12-19 years are obese.
• 18% of children aged 6-11 years are obese.
• 12.1% of young children aged 2-5 years are classified as obese.

The Rise of Obesity: Factors and Implications

Historical dietary guidance, such as the failed food pyramid, has been implicated in the steady rise of obesity rates over the past decades. Presently, up to 70% of the U.S. population is affected by an overweight status or obesity. This has had profound implications both for individuals and society at large, with vast economic and health-related costs.

The Blame Game: Why Victimizing Doesn't Help

It's a common societal reflex to judge or blame individuals for their obese state. However, in many instances, underlying conditions such as insulin resistance play a significant role in weight gain. Assigning blame often overlooks these complex factors.

Rethinking Our Dietary Approach Shifting focus from individual blame to understanding the complexities of obesity is crucial. A key factor is insulin resistance, impacting up to 71% of the population, with 35% experiencing metabolic syndrome. Navigating Misinformation The overwhelming presence of over 20,000 books and mixed messages on obesity medicine calls for guidance from experts like Dr Prab R. Tumpati, MD, who can provide clarity on the science and practice of this field. The Downfall of the Food Guide Pyramid The outdated and ineffective food guide pyramid, promoting a low-fat but high-glycemic diet, significantly contributed to increased insulin resistance and, consequently, weight gain. Insulin resistance and weight gain Insulin resistance is a physiological condition where the body's cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin. As insulin not only controls the blood sugar, it also controls the weight! Reducing the overall carbohydrate load and insulin levels is a key underlying concept in many low carbohydrate diets such as the ketogenic diet.

The Blame Game in Obesity Understanding metabolic starvation Weight gain isn't typically intentional. It often stems from the paradox of metabolic starvation in the obese, driven by insulin resistance and resulting in heightened insulin levels. This leads to persistent hunger, cravings, and further weight gain. Stop blaming the victim for obesity!

Obesity Statistics by State in the United States

A breakdown of obesity rates by state and the District of Columbia provides a more detailed view of the epidemic based on the BRFSS data:

Location	Year	Topic	Question	Data value	Sample size	Age	Education	Gender	Income	Race	Category	Stratification
North Dakota		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	59.2	62					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	51.4	157					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
Wyoming		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	51.4	54					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
Maine		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	50.3	57					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
Arkansas		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	48.8	58					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
South Dakota		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	48.7	109					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
Hawaii		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	48.1	85					Non-Hispanic Black	Race/Ethnicity	Non-Hispanic Black
Missouri		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	47.5	106					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
Nevada		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	45.8	75					Asian	Race/Ethnicity	Asian
Maine		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	45.1	94					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
Virgin Islands		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	44.1	286	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Nevada		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.8	867		College graduate				Education	College graduate
Idaho		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.7	101					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
Rhode Island		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.7	1610	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Washington		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.6	118					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
California		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.4	892	45					Age (years)	45 - 54
Colorado		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.3	79					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
California		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	43.2	3169			Male			Gender	Male
Idaho		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.6	65					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
Tennessee		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.5	1341	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Michigan		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.4	59					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.4	3427			Male			Gender	Male
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.3	1892	65					Age (years)	65 or older
California		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.2	312					Non-Hispanic Black	Race/Ethnicity	Non-Hispanic Black
Montana		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.2	145					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
Ohio		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.2	66					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
Tennessee		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42.1	785	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Colorado		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	42	78					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
Connecticut		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.8	3587			Male			Gender	Male
New Hampshire		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.8	76					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.8	1145	45					Age (years)	45 - 54
Nevada		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.7	431	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Massachusetts		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.6	100					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
Rhode Island		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.6	2324			Male			Gender	Male
Virginia		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.5	52					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
Arizona		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.4	4755			Male			Gender	Male
Nevada		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.4	287				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
Wyoming		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.4	735	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Illinois		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.3	853	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Nevada		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.3	918	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.2	98				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
Wyoming		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.2	1795			Male			Gender	Male
New Hampshire		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41.1	2815	65					Age (years)	65 or older
California		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41	758		Less than high school				Education	Less than high school
Nebraska		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41	729					Hispanic	Race/Ethnicity	Hispanic
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	41	1085	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Connecticut		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.9	1255	45					Age (years)	45 - 54
Hawaii		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.8	3443			Male			Gender	Male
Indiana		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.8	117					Other	Race/Ethnicity	Other
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.8	341				$35,000 - $49,999		Income	$35,000 - $49,999
Tennessee		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.8	2065			Male			Gender	Male
Colorado		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.6	4960			Male			Gender	Male
Delaware		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.6	1125	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Idaho		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.6	3028			Male			Gender	Male
Montana		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.6	3046			Male			Gender	Male
Virgin Islands		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.6	399	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Arizona		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.5	1450	45					Age (years)	45 - 54
Guam		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.5	153					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
New Hampshire		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.5	2612			Male			Gender	Male
Oregon		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.5	1415	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.5	225				$50,000 - $74,999		Income	$50,000 - $74,999
New York		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.4	658					2 or more races	Race/Ethnicity	2 or more races
North Carolina		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.4	136					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
Wisconsin		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.4	63					Asian	Race/Ethnicity	Asian
Colorado		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.3	2567	65					Age (years)	65 or older
Massachusetts		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.3	680				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
Minnesota		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.2	7303			Male			Gender	Male
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.2	1550			Male			Gender	Male
Tennessee		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.2	1455				Data not reported		Income	Data not reported
Arizona		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.1	147					Asian	Race/Ethnicity	Asian
Maryland		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.1	74					American Indian/Alaska Native	Race/Ethnicity	American Indian/Alaska Native
New York		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.1	16157			Male			Gender	Male
Virgin Islands		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.1	398				Data not reported		Income	Data not reported
Washington		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40.1	5782			Male			Gender	Male
Delaware		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40	1506			Male			Gender	Male
Guam		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40	184				$25,000 - $34,999		Income	$25,000 - $34,999
Illinois		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40	307				$35,000 - $49,999		Income	$35,000 - $49,999
Wisconsin		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40	2680			Male			Gender	Male
Wyoming		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	40	519				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
Arizona		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.9	1434				$50,000 - $74,999		Income	$50,000 - $74,999
Rhode Island		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.9	2410		College graduate				Education	College graduate
Colorado		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.8	1543	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.8	1363					Hispanic	Race/Ethnicity	Hispanic
Oregon		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.8	491				$25,000 - $34,999		Income	$25,000 - $34,999
South Carolina		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.8	4133			Male			Gender	Male
Alaska		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	82					Non-Hispanic Black	Race/Ethnicity	Non-Hispanic Black
Kansas		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	7848			Male			Gender	Male
Kentucky		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	1531		College graduate				Education	College graduate
Nebraska		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	6474			Male			Gender	Male
New Jersey		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	1230	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Puerto Rico		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	435				$25,000 - $34,999		Income	$25,000 - $34,999
Washington		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.7	1601	45					Age (years)	45 - 54
California		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.6	1930					Hispanic	Race/Ethnicity	Hispanic
Hawaii		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.6	1321	55					Age (years)	55 - 64
Louisiana		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.6	453				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
South Carolina		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.6	925				$75,000 or greater		Income	$75,000 or greater
Maryland		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.5	826					Hispanic	Race/Ethnicity	Hispanic
Tennessee		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.5	449				$15,000 - $24,999		Income	$15,000 - $24,999
Virgin Islands		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.5	192				$35,000 - $49,999		Income	$35,000 - $49,999
Wyoming		Obesity / Weight Status	Percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have an overweight classification	39.5	468				$25,000 - $34,999		Income	$25,000 - $34,999

More...

See Also

• County obesity rates United States
• Causes of weight gain

Metabolic syndrome

WikiMD's Obesity Rates (US)

Obesity is a prevalent, severe, and expensive chronic condition affecting both adults and children. Check the Obesity rates in the United States by country

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