NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 239 ■ March 2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Current Asthma Prevalence by Weight Status Among Adults: 

United States, 2001–2014

Lara J. Akinbami, M.D., and Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey, 

2001–2014

● In 2011–2014, current 

asthma prevalence was 8.8% 

among adults. It was higher 

among adults with obesity 

(11.1%) compared with adults 

in normal weight (7.1%) and 

overweight (7.8%) categories.

● Women with obesity 

had higher current asthma 

prevalence (14.6%) than those 

in normal weight (7.9%) and 

overweight (9.1%) categories. 

Current asthma prevalence 

did not differ significantly by 

weight status for men.

● Current asthma prevalence 

was highest among adults with 

obesity for all race and Hispanic 

origin groups and age groups.

● Overall current asthma 

prevalence among adults 

increased from 2001–2002 

(7.1%) to 2013–2014 (9.2%). 

By weight status, prevalence 

increased among overweight 

adults but not among adults 

in the obese or normal weight 

categories.

Asthma is a common chronic airway disorder characterized by periods of 

airflow obstruction known as asthma attacks (1). Symptom frequency can 

range from intermittent to constant, and attack severity can vary from mild to 

life threatening (1). Several studies have shown that among adults, obesity is 

associated with an increased risk of asthma diagnosis, more frequent asthmarelated health care use, and greater symptom or severity burden (2–6). In this 

report, current asthma prevalence is examined by weight status among U.S. 

adults aged 20 and over.

Keywords: lung disease • obesity • National Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey

Unlike men, women with obesity had higher current asthma 

prevalence than those in lower weight categories.

Figure 1. Current asthma prevalence among adults aged 20 and over, by weight 

status and sex: United States, 2011–2014

1Overall current asthma prevalence among adults, including the underweight category that is not shown separately, was 8.8%. 

2Significantly higher than normal weight and overweight categories (p < 0.05). 3Significantly higher than men (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over.

Access data table for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db239_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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● During 2011–2014, current asthma prevalence was 8.8% among adults overall. Prevalence 

was significantly higher among adults with obesity (11.1%) compared with adults in normal 

weight (7.1%) and overweight (7.8%) categories (Figure 1).

● Among men, there were no significant differences in current asthma prevalence by weight 

status.

● As observed overall, women with obesity had significantly higher current asthma prevalence 

(14.6%) compared with women in the normal weight (7.9%) and overweight (9.1%) 

categories.

● Among adults with obesity, women had significantly higher current asthma prevalence 

compared with men. For both the normal weight and overweight categories, there was no 

significant difference in current asthma prevalence between men and women.

Current asthma prevalence was higher among adults with obesity than 

among those with normal weight for all race and Hispanic origin groups.

● The prevalence of current asthma among non-Hispanic white adults with obesity (10.9%) 

was significantly higher than among those in the normal weight (8.1%) category (Figure 2).

● Among non-Hispanic black adults, the prevalence of current asthma among adults with 

obesity (13.6%) was significantly higher than among those in the overweight (7.5%) and 

normal weight (6.6%) categories.

 

1Significantly higher than normal weight (p < 0.05). 2Significantly higher than overweight (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Age adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over.

Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db239_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.

Figure 2. Current asthma prevalence among adults aged 20 and over, by weight status and race and 

Hispanic origin: United States, 2011–2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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● Similarly, Hispanic adults with obesity had higher current asthma prevalence (9.6%) than 

those in the overweight (4.0%) and normal weight (5.7%) categories.

● There were no significant differences in current asthma prevalence between adults in the 

normal weight and overweight categories within any race and Hispanic origin group.

Across all adult age groups, current asthma prevalence was significantly 

higher among adults with obesity compared with those in lower weight 

categories.

● For all age groups, adults with obesity had significantly higher current asthma prevalence 

than adults in the normal weight and overweight categories. For example, among adults 

aged 20–39, asthma prevalence was 11.1% among adults with obesity, 8.1% among adults in 

the overweight category, and 7.5% among adults in the normal weight category (Figure 3).

● Among adults aged 60 and over, there was a significant trend of increasing asthma 

prevalence with weight status, 7.0% among normal weight adults, 9.1% among overweight 

adults, and 11.6% among adults with obesity.

 

1Significantly higher than normal weight and overweight adults in same age group (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db239_table.pdf#3.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.

Figure 3. Current asthma prevalence among adults aged 20 and over, by weight status and age group:

United States, 2011–2014

 
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From 2001–2002 to 2013–2014, current asthma prevalence significantly 

increased among adults; by weight status, asthma prevalence increased 

among adults in the overweight category but not among adults in normal 

weight or obese categories.

● Among adults, overall current asthma prevalence increased significantly from 2001–2002 

(7.1%) to 2013–2014 (9.2%) (Figure 4).

● Among weight status subgroups, current asthma prevalence increased among adults in the 

overweight category, from 5.6% in 2001–2012 to 8.4% in 2013–2014. 

● There was no significant trend in current asthma prevalence among adults in the normal 

weight or obese categories.

1Significantly increasing trend (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. Census population using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over.

Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db239_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2014.

Figure 4. Current asthma prevalence among adults aged 20 and over, by weight status: United States, 2001–2014

 
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Summary

In 2011–2014, current asthma prevalence was higher among adults with obesity compared 

with adults in lower weight categories. This pattern was consistent across most demographic 

subgroups, except among men, for whom no statistically significant difference in current asthma 

prevalence by weight status was observed. Other epidemiologic studies of asthma prevalence 

have shown conflicting results about whether obesity is a risk factor for asthma among males 

(2,4). By race and Hispanic origin, current asthma prevalence was highest among adults with 

obesity for all groups. Patterns differed slightly among groups. For non-Hispanic black and 

Hispanic adults, prevalence for those with obesity was higher than for those in the normal weight 

and overweight categories. For non-Hispanic white adults, there was no signficant difference 

in asthma prevalence between the obese and overweight categories. For all age groups, current 

asthma prevalence was highest among adults with obesity, and there was no significant difference 

in asthma prevalence between those in the normal weight and overweight categories. There was 

an increasing trend in asthma prevalence as weight increased that was observed most clearly in 

the 60 and over age group. From 2001 to 2014, there was an increasing trend in current asthma 

prevalence among adults overall and among overweight adults. However, no significant trend was 

observed among adults in other weight categories.

Findings from an American Thoracic Society workshop on obesity and asthma concluded that 

obesity is a major risk factor for asthma, and that obesity-related asthma is likely different from 

other types of asthma (e.g., allergic, occupational, exercise-induced, nocturnal, aspirin-sensitive, 

and severe asthma) (4).

Definitions

Current asthma prevalence: Measured based on affirmative responses to the following questions: 

“Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have asthma?” and 

“Do you still have asthma?” Data on current asthma status among adults is available in National 

Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) beginning with the 2001–2002 survey.

Weight status: Body mass index (BMI) is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters 

squared (kg/m2

), rounded to the nearest tenth. Normal weight is a BMI of at least 18.5 kg/m2

and less than 25 kg/m2

. Underweight category (less than 18.5 kg/m2) had an insufficient sample 

size to generate reliable estimates and was not included as a separate category but is included in 

estimates for the total population. Overweight is a BMI of at least 25 kg/m2

 and less than 30 kg/m2. 

Obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2

.
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Data sources and methods

Data from the 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, and 

2013–2014 NHANES were used for these analyses. Data from NHANES 2011–2014 (4 years of 

data) were used to test differences between demographic subgroups, thus increasing the sample 

size and the power to detect a difference in prevalence (7). Survey participants were selected 

using a complex, multistage probability design. Participants were interviewed in their homes and 

then underwent standardized physical examinations in a mobile examination center. Pregnant 

women were excluded from these analyses.

In 2011–2012 and 2013–2014, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, Hispanic adults, 

and other groups were oversampled in order to obtain reliable estimates for these population 

subgroups. Race and Hispanic origin-specific estimates reflect individuals reporting only one 

race. Those reporting more than one race are included in the total but not reported separately.

Examination sample weights, which account for differential selection probabilities, nonresponse, 

and noncoverage, are used in the estimation of national estimates. Variance estimation accounted 

for the complex survey design. All results presented have a relative standard error of less than 

30%. Differences between groups were tested using a t statistic with the appropriate degrees 

of freedom at the p < 0.05 significant level (where p is the probability of rejecting the null 

hypothesis when it is true). Linear survey trends were tested using orthogonal contrast matrices. 

All differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Statistical analyses 

were conducted using SAS System for Windows release 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.) and 

SUDAAN release 11.0 (RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Lara J. Akinbami and Cheryl D. Fryar are with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
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References

1. Expert panel report 3: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bethesda, 

MD: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. 2007. 

2. Beuther DA, Sutherland ER. Overweight, obesity, and incident asthma: A meta-analysis of 

prospective epidemiologic studies. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 175(7):661–6. 2007.

3. Sin DD, Jones RL, Man SF. Obesity is a risk factor for dyspnea but not for airflow 

obstruction. Arch Intern Med 162(13):1477–81. 2002.

4. Dixon AE, Holguin F, Sood A, Salome CM, Pratley RE, Beuther DA, et al. An official 

American Thoracic Society workshop report: Obesity and asthma. Proc Am Thorac Soc 7(5):325–

35. 2010.

5. Peters JI, McKinney JM, Smith B, Wood P, Forkner E, Galbreath AD. Impact of obesity 

in asthma: Evidence from a large prospective disease management study. Ann Allergy Asthma 

Immunol 106(1):30–5. 2011.

6. Taylor B, Mannino D, Brown C, Crocker D, Twum-Baah N, Holguin F. Body mass index and 

asthma severity in the National Asthma Survey. Thorax 63(1):14–20. 2008.

7. Johnson CL, Dohrmann SM, Burt VL, Mohadjer LK. National Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey: Sample design, 2011–2014. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital 

Health Stat 2(162). 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 239 ■ March 2016

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Suggested citation

Akinbami LJ, Fryar CD. Asthma prevalence 

by weight status among adults: United 

States, 2001–2014. NCHS data brief, no 

239. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose, M.A., Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science