Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
5099092 
Journal Article 
Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016 
Hales, CM; Carroll, MD; Fryar, CD; Ogden, CL 
2017 
0 
NCHS Data Brief
ISSN: 1941–4927
EISSN: 1941–4935 
288 
English 
Key findings: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

In 2015–2016, the prevalence of obesity was 39.8% in adults and 18.5% in youth.
The prevalence of obesity was higher among middle-aged adults (42.8%) than among younger adults (35.7%).
The prevalence of obesity was higher among youth aged 6–11 years (18.4%) and adolescents aged 12–19 years (20.6%) compared with children aged 2–5 years (13.9%).
The overall prevalence of obesity was higher among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults than among non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Asian adults. The same pattern was seen among youth.
The observed change in prevalence between 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 was not significant among both adults and youth.

Obesity is associated with serious health risks (1). Monitoring obesity prevalence is relevant for public health programs that focus on reducing or preventing obesity. Between 2003–2004 and 2013–2014, there were no significant changes in childhood obesity prevalence, but adults showed an increasing trend (2). This report provides the most recent national estimates from 2015–2016 on obesity prevalence by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin, and overall estimates from 1999–2000 through 2015–2016.