U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: 

 United States, 2011–2014

Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.; Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; 

and Katherine M. Flegal, Ph.D.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey

● In 2011–2014, the

prevalence of obesity was just 

over 36% in adults and 17% in 

youth.

● The prevalence of obesity

was higher in women (38.3%) 

than in men (34.3%). Among 

all youth, no difference was 

seen by sex.

● The prevalence of obesity

was higher among middle-aged 

(40.2%) and older (37.0%) 

adults than younger (32.3%) 

adults.

● The prevalence of obesity

was higher among nonHispanic white, non-Hispanic 

black, and Hispanic adults and 

youth than among non-Hispanic 

Asian adults and youth.

● From 1999 through 2014,

obesity prevalence increased 

among adults and youth. 

However, among youth, 

prevalence did not change 

from 2003–2004 through 

2013–2014.

Obesity is associated with health risks (1,2). Monitoring the prevalence 

of obesity is relevant for public health programs that focus on reducing 

or preventing obesity. No significant changes were seen in either adult or 

childhood obesity prevalence in the United States between 2003–2004 and 

2011–2012 (3). This report provides the most recent national data on obesity 

prevalence by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin, using data for 2011–

2014. Overall prevalence estimates from 1999–2000 through 2013–2014 are 

also presented.

Keyword: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

What was the prevalence of obesity among adults in 

2011–2014?

The prevalence of obesity was 36.5% (crude estimate) among U.S. adults 

during 2011–2014. Overall, the prevalence of obesity among middle-aged 

Figure 1. Prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and age: United States, 

2011–2014 

1

Significantly different from those aged 20–39.

2

Significantly different from women of the same age group. 

NOTES: Totals were 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. Crude estimates are 36.5% for all, 34.5% for men, and 38.5% for women. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

■  2  ■

adults aged 40–59 (40.2%) and older adults aged 60 and over (37.0%) was higher than among 

younger adults aged 20–39 (32.3%). No significant difference in prevalence was observed 

between middle-aged and older adults (Figure 1).

Overall, the prevalence of obesity among women (38.3%) was higher than among men (34.3%). 

For adults aged 20–39 and 40–59, the prevalence of obesity was higher among women than 

among men, but the difference between older women and men aged 60 and over was not 

significant.

Among both men and women, the prevalence of obesity followed a similar pattern by age. Men 

aged 40–59 (38.3%) had a higher prevalence of obesity than men aged 20–39 (30.3%). Women 

aged 40–59 (42.1%) had a higher prevalence of obesity than women aged 20–39 (34.4%). The 

prevalence of obesity among men and women aged 20–39 was lower than among men and 

women aged 60 and over, except the difference for men was not significant.

Were there differences in the prevalence of obesity among adults by race 

and Hispanic origin in 2011–2014?

The prevalence of obesity was lowest among non-Hispanic Asian adults (11.7%), followed by 

non-Hispanic white (34.5%), Hispanic (42.5%), and non-Hispanic black (48.1%) adults. All 

differences were significant. The pattern among women was similar to the pattern in the overall 

adult population. The prevalence of obesity was 11.9% in non-Hispanic Asian, 35.5% in nonHispanic white, 45.7% in Hispanic, and 56.9% in non-Hispanic black women. The prevalence 

Figure 2. Prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and race and Hispanic origin: United States, 

2011–2014 

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian persons.

2

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white persons.

3

Significantly different from Hispanic persons.

4

Significantly different from women of the same race and Hispanic origin. 

NOTE: All estimates are 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.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

■  3  ■

of obesity was lower in non-Hispanic Asian (11.2%) men compared with non-Hispanic white 

(33.6%), non-Hispanic black (37.5%), and Hispanic (39.0%) men. No difference in obesity 

prevalence was observed between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white men, nor was there 

a difference between non-Hispanic black and Hispanic men (Figure 2).

The only differences by sex were found among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults. The 

prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic black women was 56.9% compared with 37.5% 

in non-Hispanic black men. The prevalence of obesity was 45.7% among Hispanic women 

compared with 39.0% in Hispanic men.

What was the prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2–19 years in 

2011–2014?

The prevalence of obesity among U.S. youth was 17.0% in 2011–2014. Overall, the prevalence 

of obesity among preschool-aged children (2–5 years) (8.9%) was lower than among school-aged 

children (6–11 years) (17.5%) and adolescents (12–19 years) (20.5%). The same pattern was seen 

in both males and females (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2–19 years, by sex and age: United States, 2011–2014 

1

Significantly different from those aged 2–5 years. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

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Were there differences in the prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2–19 

years by race and Hispanic origin in 2011–2014?

The prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic Asian youth (8.6%) was lower than among 

non-Hispanic white (14.7%), non-Hispanic black (19.5%), and Hispanic (21.9%) youth. The 

prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic white youth was lower than in non-Hispanic black 

and Hispanic youth, but no significant difference was observed between non-Hispanic black and 

Hispanic youth. 

The pattern among females was similar to the pattern in the overall population, except the 

prevalence was not significantly different in non-Hispanic white females compared with nonHispanic black females. The prevalence of obesity was 5.3% in non-Hispanic Asian, 15.1% in 

non-Hispanic white, 20.7% in non-Hispanic black, and 21.4% in Hispanic females. 

Among males, the prevalence of obesity was lower in non-Hispanic Asian (11.8%) males 

compared with non-Hispanic black (18.4%) and Hispanic (22.4%) males, but no significant 

difference was seen between non-Hispanic Asian (11.8%) and non-Hispanic white (14.3%) 

males. Differences between non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic males were 

statistically significant (Figure 4).

The only difference by sex was found among non-Hispanic Asian youth—the prevalence was 

11.8% in non-Hispanic Asian males and 5.3% in non-Hispanic Asian females.

Figure 4. Prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2–19 years, by sex and race and Hispanic origin: United States, 

2011–2014 

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic Asian persons.

2

Significantly different from non-Hispanic white persons.

3

Significantly different from females of the same race and Hispanic origin. 

4

Significantly different from non-Hispanic black persons.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

■  5  ■

What are the trends in adult and childhood obesity?

From 1999–2000 through 2013–2014, a significant increase in obesity was observed in both 

adults and youth. Between 2003–2004 and 2013–2014, however, no change in prevalence was 

seen among youth. No change in obesity prevalence among youth was noted between 2011–2012 

and 2013–2014, and the observed change in adults between 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 was not 

significant (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Trends in obesity prevalence among adults aged 20 and over (age-adjusted) and youth aged 2–19 years: 

United States, 1999–2000 through 2013–2014

 

1

Significant increasing linear trend from 1999–2000 through 2013–2014.

2

Test for linear trend for 2003–2004 through 2013–2014 not significant (p > 0.05).

NOTE: All adult estimates are 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. 

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

Summary

More than one-third of adults and 17% of youth in the United States were obese in 2011–2014. 

The prevalence of obesity was higher among women than among men overall and higher among 

non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults compared with other racial and Hispanic origin groups. 

Among youth, no difference in obesity prevalence was seen between males and females, except 

among non-Hispanic Asian youth.

Obesity prevalence was lower among non-Hispanic Asian adults compared with other racial and 

Hispanic origin groups. No difference in obesity prevalence was observed between non-Hispanic 

black and Hispanic men. However, the prevalence was higher among non-Hispanic black women 

compared with Hispanic women. Among youth, the prevalence of obesity was lowest among nonHispanic Asian youth, but no significant difference in prevalence was seen between non-Hispanic 

white and non-Hispanic Asian males. Among males, the prevalence of obesity was lower among 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

■  6  ■

non-Hispanic black compared with Hispanic youth. However, among females, no difference in 

prevalence was observed between non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth.

Trends in obesity prevalence show no increase among youth since 2003–2004, but trends do 

show increases in both adults and youth from 1999–2000 through 2013–2014. No significant 

differences between 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 were seen in either youth or adults.

Obesity is defined using cut points of body mass index (BMI). BMI does not measure body 

fat directly, and the relationship between BMI and body fat varies by sex, age, and race and 

Hispanic origin (4,5). Morbidity and mortality risk may vary between different racial and 

Hispanic origin groups at the same BMI. Some studies suggest that among some Asian 

subgroups, health and mortality risks may begin at a lower BMI compared with other racial 

and Hispanic origin groups (6–8).

The definition of obesity is based on BMI for both youth and adults, but the definitions are not 

directly comparable. Among adults, there is a set cut point based on health risk, while among 

children the definition is statistical and is based on a comparison to a reference population (9).

The prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults remains higher than the Healthy People 2020 goal 

of 30.5% (10). Although the overall prevalence of childhood obesity is higher than the Healthy 

People 2020 goal of 14.5%, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 2–5 years is below the 

goal of 9.4%.

Definitions

Non-Hispanic Asian: Primarily comprises persons of Chinese, Asian Indian, Korean, Filipino, 

Vietnamese, and Japanese descent.

Obesity: BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, rounded 

to one decimal place. Obesity in adults was defined as a BMI of greater than or equal to 30. 

Obesity in youth was defined as a BMI of greater than or equal to the age- and sex-specific 95th 

percentile of the 2000 CDC growth charts (9).

Data source and methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for survey years 

1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, and 

2013–2014 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 

ability to detect a difference in the prevalence. In testing for trends in obesity, eight 2-year cycles 

were used: 1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, 

and 2013–2014. Because previous research found no increase in obesity prevalence from 2003–

2004 through 2011–2012 (3), analyses of linear trends were also conducted between 2003–2004 

and 2013–2014.

NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the 

civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population (11). The survey consists of interviews conducted 

in participants’ homes and standardized physical examinations conducted in mobile examination 

centers.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 219 ■ November 2015

■  7  ■

The NHANES sample is selected through a complex, multistage probability design. In 2011–2012 

and 2013–2014, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic persons, among other 

groups, were oversampled 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 are not reported separately.

Examination sample weights, which account for the differential probabilities of selection, 

nonresponse, and noncoverage, were incorporated into the estimation process. All variance 

estimates accounted for the complex survey design by using Taylor series linearization. Pregnant 

females were excluded from analyses.

Prevalence estimates for the adult population aged 20 and over were age-adjusted using the direct 

method to the 2000 U.S. census population using the age groups 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and over. 

Differences between groups were tested using a univariate t statistic at the p < 0.05 significance 

level. All differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise indicated. Adjustments 

were not made for multiple comparisons. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SAS 

System for Windows, release 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN, release 11.1 

(RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Cynthia L. Ogden, Margaret D. Carroll, Cheryl D. Fryar, and Katherine M. Flegal are with CDC’s 

National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

References

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general’s vision for a healthy and fit nation. Rockville, MD: 2010.

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United States, 2011–2012. JAMA 311(8):806–14. 2014.

4. Flegal KM, Ogden CL, Yanovski JA, Freedman DS, Shepherd JA, Graubard BI, Borrud LG. 

High adiposity and high body mass index-for-age in US children and adolescents overall and by 

race-ethnic group. Am J Clin Nutr 91(4):1020–6. 2010.

5. Deurenberg P, Deurenberg-Yap M, Guricci S. Asians are different from Caucasians and from 

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in South Asia have higher body mass-adjusted blood pressure levels than white children in the 

United States: A comparative study. Circulation 111(10):1291–7. 2005.
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PERMIT NO. G-284

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al. Association between body-mass index and risk of death in more than 1 

million Asians. N Engl J Med 364(8):719–29. 2011.

9. Ogden CL, Flegal KM. Changes in terminology for childhood

overweight and obesity. National health statistics reports; no 25. Hyattsville, 

MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

10. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease

Prevention and Health Promotion. Healthy People 2020 topics and 

objectives: Nutrition and weight status. Washington, DC. Available from: 

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-andweight-status?topicid=29.

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Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(162). 2014.

ISSN 1941–4927 Print ed.

ISSN 1941–4935 Online ed.

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Suggested citation

Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Flegal 

KM. Prevalence of obesity among adults 

and youth: United States, 2011–2014. NCHS 

data brief, no 219. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

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-Ram, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

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