NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

The health risks associated with obesity (1) make reducing the high prevalence 

of obesity a public health priority (2). Previous publications have shown 

both racial and ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence and no change in the 

prevalence of obesity among adults since 2003–2004 (3,4). National obesity 

prevalence estimates for non-Hispanic Asian persons are possible for the first 

time, using newly available data. This report presents national estimates of 

obesity among adults in the United States in 2011–2012, based on measured 

weight and height.

Keywords: obese adults • National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

What was the prevalence of obesity among adults in 

2011–2012?

More than one-third (age-adjusted 34.9%, crude 35.1%) of U.S. adults were 

obese in 2011–2012. Overall, the prevalence of obesity among middle-aged 

adults aged 40–59 was higher than among younger adults aged 20–39 or older 

adults aged 60 and over (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, by sex and age group, among adults aged 20

and over: United States, 2011–2012

1

Crude estimate 35.1%.

2

Significant difference from ages 20–39. 

3

Significant difference from ages 40–59.

NOTE: Estimates are age-adjusted for all adults aged 20 and over 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, 2011–2012.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total Men Women

Percent

20–39 40–59 60 and over

1

34.9 33.5 36.1

30.3 29.0

31.8

2

39.5 2

39.4 2

39.5 2,3

35.4 3

32.0

2

38.1

All adults 20 and over

Key findings

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey, 

2011–2012

• More than one-third (34.9%) 

of adults were obese in 

2011–2012.

• In 2011–2012, the 

prevalence of obesity was 

higher among middle-aged 

adults (39.5%) than among 

younger (30.3%) or older 

(35.4%) adults.

• The overall prevalence of 

obesity did not differ between 

men and women in 2011–2012. 

Among non-Hispanic black 

adults, however, 56.6% of 

women were obese compared 

with 37.1% of men.

• In 2011–2012, the 

prevalence of obesity was 

higher among non-Hispanic 

black (47.8%), Hispanic 

(42.5%), and non-Hispanic 

white (32.6%) adults than 

among non-Hispanic Asian 

adults (10.8%).

• The prevalence of obesity 

among adults did not change 

between 2009–2010 and 

2011–2012.

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults: United States,

2011–2012

Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.; Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H.; Brian K. Kit, M.D., M.P.H.;

Katherine M. Flegal, Ph.D.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

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Men aged 40–59 had a higher prevalence of obesity (39.4%) than did men aged 20–39 (29.0%) 

and men aged 60 and over (32.0%). However, there was no difference in the prevalence of obesity 

between men aged 20–39 and those aged 60 and over. Among women, the prevalence of obesity 

did not differ between those aged 40–59 and 60 and over (39.5% compared with 38.1%). The 

prevalence of obesity among younger women was lower than among either middle-aged or older 

women.

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

and Hispanic origin in 2011–2012?

The prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic Asian adults (10.8%) was lower than among nonHispanic white (32.6%), Hispanic (42.5%), and non-Hispanic black (47.8%) adults (Figure 2). 

The prevalence of obesity among Hispanic men (40.1%) was higher than among non-Hispanic 

Asian (10.0%) and non-Hispanic white (32.4%) men. The prevalence of obesity was higher 

among non-Hispanic black women (56.6%) than among Hispanic (44.4%), non-Hispanic white 

(32.8%), and non-Hispanic Asian (11.4%) women.

The only difference by sex was found among non-Hispanic black adults: 56.6% of non-Hispanic 

black women were obese compared with 37.1% of non-Hispanic black men.

Figure 2. Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, by sex and race and Hispanic origin, among adults aged 20 and over:

United States, 2011–2012

1

Significant difference from non-Hispanic Asian.

2

Significant difference from non-Hispanic white. 

3

Significant difference from women. 

4

Significant difference from Hispanic. 

NOTE: 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, 2011–2012.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total Men Women

Percent

Non-Hispanic black Non-Hispanic Asian Hispanic

1

32.6 1

32.4

1,240.1

1,247.8

1,244.4

1

32.8

10.8

1,3

37.1

1,2,4

56.6

1,242.5

10.0 11.4

Non-Hispanic white
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

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How many adults were obese in 2011–2012?

As in 2009–2010 (3), more than 78 million adults were obese in 2011–2012. The majority of 

these obese adults (more than 50 million) were non-Hispanic white (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Number of obese adults aged 20 and over, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2011–2012

1

Includes race and Hispanic origin groups not shown separately. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012. Number in millions

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Non-Hispanic Hispanic

Asian

Non-Hispanic

black

Non-Hispanic

white

Total

1

78.6

50.2

12.2

1.2

13.4
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

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Did the prevalence of obesity change between 2009–2010 and 2011–2012?

There was no significant change in obesity prevalence between 2009–2010 and 2011–2012 

among either men or women. In 2011–2012, the prevalence of obesity among men was 33.5%, 

compared with 35.5% in 2009–2010. Among women, obesity prevalence was 36.1% in 2011–

2012 and 35.8% in 2009–2010 (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, by sex, among adults aged 20 and over: United States, 2009–2010 and 

2011–2012

NOTE: 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, 2009–2010 and 2011–2012. Percent

35.7 34.9 33.5

35.5 35.8 36.1

2009–2010 2011–2012

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Total Men Women
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

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Summary

The most recent national data from 2011–2012 on obesity prevalence among U.S. adults show 

that there was no significant change since 2009–2010. The prevalence of obesity among adults 

continues to be greater than one-third of the population.

As in 2009–2010, there was no difference in the prevalence of obesity between men and women 

(3). But unlike in 2009–2010, the prevalence of obesity among the oldest adults aged 60 and over 

was lower, not higher, than among middle-aged adults.

Disparities in obesity prevalence continue to exist. Newly available data show a lower prevalence 

of obesity among non-Hispanic Asian adults than among non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic 

black, and Hispanic adults. At a given body mass index (BMI) level, body fat may vary by age, 

sex, and racial and ethnic group (5–7). In particular, at a given BMI, Asian adults may have more 

body fat than white adults (7). Morbidity and mortality risk may be influenced by factors—such 

as body composition and fat distribution—that are not completely captured by BMI (8).

Disparities in obesity prevalence show the highest prevalence among non-Hispanic black and 

Hispanic adults. Nonetheless, the burden of obesity in terms of number of obese adults shows that 

the majority of obese adults are non-Hispanic white. Overall, the prevalence of obesity among 

U.S. adults remains above the Healthy People 2020 goal of 30.5% (9).

Definition

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

to one decimal place. Obesity in adults is defined as BMI greater than or equal to 30 (1). 

Examples of adult obesity cut points at specific heights are shown in the Table.

Table. Obesity cut points for adults 5′4′′ and 5′9′′

Height Obesity weight range

5 feet 4 inches, or 1.63 meters 174 pounds or more, or 79 kilograms or more

5 feet 9 inches, or 1.75 meters 203 pounds or more, or 92 kilograms or more
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Data source and methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2011–2012 

and 2009–2010 were used for these analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional survey designed to 

monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population (10). 

It is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for 

Health Statistics (NCHS). The survey consists of interviews conducted in participants’ homes and 

standardized physical examinations conducted in mobile examination centers.

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

2012, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic persons, among 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.

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 women were excluded 

from analyses.

Estimates of the number of obese adults were calculated using the alternative population control 

totals for 2011–2012, based on the American Community Survey (11) and on crude, rather than 

age-adjusted, obesity prevalence estimates.

Prevalence estimates for the total adult population 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 Ogden, Margaret Carroll, and Brian Kit are with CDC’s National Center for Health 

Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Katherine Flegal is with 

NCHS’ Office of the Director.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 131 ■ October 2013

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References

1. Clinical guidelines on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity 

in adults—The evidence report. National Institutes of Health. Obes Res 6(Suppl 2):51S–209S. 

1998.

2. HHS. The surgeon general’s vision for a healthy and fit nation. Rockville, MD: HHS, Office 

of the Surgeon General. 2010.

3. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of obesity in the United States, 2009–

2010. NCHS data brief, no 82. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2012.

4. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the 

distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. JAMA 307(5):491–7. 2012.

5. 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.

6. Flegal KM, Shepherd JA, Looker AC, Graubard BI, Borrud LG, Ogden CL, et al. 

Comparisons of percentage body fat, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-stature 

ratio in adults. Am J Clin Nutr 89(2):500–8. 2009.

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

each other in their body mass index/body fat per cent relationship. Obes Rev 3(3):141–6. 2002.

8. Ahima RS, Lazar MA. Physiology. The health risk of obesity—Better metrics imperative. 

Science. 341(6148):856–8. 2013.

9. HHS. Office of Disease Prevention and Health. Healthy People 2020 topics and objectives: 

Nutrition and weight status. Washington, DC. 2011. Available from: http://www.healthypeople.

gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=29.

10.National Center for Health Statistics. Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. 

2012. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm.

11. National Center for Health Statistics. NHANES response rates and CPS totals: 2011–2012. 

2013. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/response_rates_CPS.htm.
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Suggested citation

Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. 

Prevalence of obesity among adults: United 

States, 2011–2012. NCHS data brief, no 

131. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

Health Statistics. 2013.

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., Acting 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