According to a February 2026 report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 40.3% of U.S. adults age 20 and older had obesity between August 2021 and August 2023. That means roughly 4 out of every 10 American adults meet the clinical definition of obesity — a figure that has more than doubled since the early 1960s. Another 31.7% of adults were classified as overweight during that same period.
Adult obesity tripled from 13.4% in 1960–1962 to 40.3% in recent surveys.
Severe obesity jumped tenfold over six decades, rising from just 0.9% to nearly 10%.
Over 7 in 10 U.S. adults now live with either overweight (31.7%) or obesity (40.3%).
These numbers come from the most comprehensive national nutrition survey in the country. And they raise real questions worth understanding — not just for public health researchers, but for anyone trying to make sense of their own health picture.
Here is a plain-language breakdown of what the data shows, who it affects most, and why it matters.
Where Did This Data Come From?
The figures come from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a long-running federal study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
NHANES is not based on self-reported data — meaning people are not simply asked how much they weigh.
Instead, trained health technicians measure each participant’s height and weight in person at a mobile examination center using standardized equipment.
This makes NHANES one of the most reliable sources of body weight data in the country. The most recent survey period covered August 2021 through August 2023, following a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final sample included nearly 6,000 adults.
What Do “Overweight,” “Obesity,” and “Severe Obesity” Actually Mean?
Carrying excess body weight relative to height, serving as an early indicator for potential metabolic risk.
Defined as having excessive body fat accumulation that presents significantly higher risks to overall health.
Formerly Class 3 obesity; indicates substantially elevated risks for severe cardiovascular and metabolic conditions.
All three categories are measured using Body Mass Index (BMI) — a number calculated from a person’s height and weight. Here is how the CDC defines each category:
- Overweight: BMI of 25.0 to 29.9
- Obesity: BMI of 30.0 or higher
- Severe obesity: BMI of 40.0 or higher
BMI is a useful screening tool at the population level. But the report is careful to note that it has real limitations for individuals. At the same BMI number, body fat levels can differ based on sex, age, race, and ethnic background.
Two groups in particular deserve a closer look:
- Asian adults: Research suggests that health risks — including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes — can begin at a lower BMI among Asian adults than among other groups. In other words, an Asian adult with a BMI of 25 may carry a higher health risk than a non-Asian adult at the same number.
- Black adults: Research suggests that BMI may overestimate body fat among Black adults at a given BMI level compared with other groups.
These nuances matter in a clinical setting. A BMI number alone is rarely the full story — it is a starting point, not a diagnosis.
What Are the Big-Picture Numbers for 2021–2023?
The August 2021–August 2023 data shows the following for U.S. adults age 20 and older:
- Overweight: 31.7% (age-adjusted) / 32.1% (unadjusted)
- Obesity: 40.3% (both age-adjusted and unadjusted)
- Severe obesity: 9.7% (age-adjusted) / 9.4% (unadjusted)
What Is the Difference Between Age-Adjusted and Unadjusted Numbers?
The report provides two sets of numbers: age-adjusted and unadjusted (also called crude estimates). This is worth understanding because the two numbers can look similar but mean different things.
Details about the Obesity Report
Unadjusted numbers reflect the raw data — the actual percentage of survey participants who fell into each category, with no statistical changes.
Age-adjusted numbers are mathematically corrected to account for shifts in the age makeup of the U.S. population over time.
Since obesity rates vary by age group, and the country’s population is getting older on average, age-adjusting allows researchers to make fair comparisons across different survey years.
Without it, you might conclude that obesity is rising simply because there are more older adults in the population — when in reality, rates within each age group may have stayed the same.
For this report, the age-adjusted and unadjusted estimates for obesity were identical at 40.3%, while severe obesity showed a small difference (9.7% vs. 9.4%). Both numbers tell a consistent story: obesity is affecting a very large share of American adults.
How Did We Get Here? Obesity Rates Over Six Decades
Perhaps the most striking part of this report is the long view. The NHANES data goes back to 1960–1962, and the contrast with today is dramatic.
60-Year Rise in U.S. Adult Obesity
Obesity Prevalence: Just over 1 in 10 adults lived with obesity, while severe obesity accounted for only 0.9%.
Rapid Acceleration: Rates more than doubled over four decades as modern food systems and sedentary lifestyles expanded.
Historical Highs: Total obesity reached 40.3%, while severe obesity surged 10x to 9.7% (nearly 1 in 10 adults).
In 1960–1962, only 13.4% of U.S. adults ages 20–74 had obesity. By 2021–2023, that number had risen to 40.8% in the same age group — more than a threefold increase in six decades.
Overweight rates, by comparison, have been relatively stable. In 1960–1962, about 31.5% of adults ages 20–74 were overweight. In 2021–2023, that figure was 31.3% — nearly unchanged. This tells an important story: adults are not simply moving from healthy weight to overweight. Many are moving past overweight into obesity or severe obesity.
Severe obesity rates confirm this trend. In 1960–1962, only 0.9% of adults had severe obesity (BMI 40 or higher). By 2021–2023, that number had risen to 10.2% among adults ages 20–74 — more than an elevenfold increase.
How Do Men and Women Compare?
The data shows meaningful differences between men and women, particularly at the more serious end of the weight spectrum.
Obesity Rates
- Men (Aug 2021–Aug 2023): 39.3%
- Women (Aug 2021–Aug 2023): 41.4%
Severe Obesity Rates
- Men: 6.8%
- Women: 12.6%
Women have consistently had higher rates of severe obesity than men throughout the NHANES data series — and that gap has grown over time. In 1988–1994, severe obesity affected 3.9% of women and 1.7% of men. By 2021–2023, those figures had risen to 12.6% and 6.8%, respectively — with women’s rates growing at a faster pace.
Which Age Group Has the Highest Obesity Rates?
The NHANES data breaks obesity rates down by three age groups: adults ages 20–39, 40–59, and 60 and older. Here is what the 2021–2023 data shows for overall obesity:
- Ages 20–39: 35.5%
- Ages 40–59: 46.4% — the highest of any age group
- Ages 60 and older: 38.9%
Adults in the 40–59 age range carry the highest obesity burden by a significant margin. Among women in this group, the rate reaches 47.4% — meaning nearly half of all women in their 40s and 50s meet the clinical definition of obesity based on measured height and weight.
The 20–39 group, while lower overall, has also seen major increases since the early 1990s. In 1988–1994, only 17.7% of adults ages 20–39 had obesity. By 2021–2023, that number had doubled to 35.5%. Rising obesity rates among younger adults have significant long-term implications for chronic disease, since excess weight over more years of life compounds health risks for conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
What Do the Numbers Show Across Racial and Ethnic Groups?
The report also breaks down obesity rates by race and Hispanic origin. The differences are substantial and have remained consistent over decades of data.
For the most recent period (August 2021–August 2023), the age-adjusted obesity rates among adults age 20 and older were:
- Non-Hispanic Black adults: 52.1%
- Hispanic adults: 44.0%
- Non-Hispanic White adults: 39.3%
- Non-Hispanic Asian adults: 13.1%
Among women specifically, the disparities are even more pronounced. Non-Hispanic Black women had an obesity rate of 56.0%, compared to 40.4% among non-Hispanic White women and 44.6% among Hispanic women.
It is important to interpret these numbers in context. Racial and ethnic differences in obesity rates reflect complex, overlapping factors — including access to affordable healthy food, neighborhood environments, socioeconomic stress, access to healthcare, and historical patterns of systemic inequality in medical care. These are not differences driven by biology alone. They are, in large part, reflections of the environments and systems in which different communities live.
What This Means for Patients Considering Weight Loss Care
The CDC data paints a clear picture: obesity is not a niche concern or a problem affecting a small portion of the population. It is now the norm for American adults, with rates that have tripled over six decades and show no signs of reversing on their own.
At the same time, this data underscores something important: obesity is a medical condition — not a personal failing. The same forces that have driven national rates upward (food environments, sedentary work, stress, genetics, and limited access to care) are the forces that make weight management difficult for individuals without clinical support.
Physician-supervised medical weight loss — including evidence-based approaches like GLP-1 therapy — exists precisely because the biology of weight gain and weight loss is complex. The tools available today, including medications like semaglutide, represent a meaningful shift in what is clinically possible for adults who have struggled with weight for years.
If you are located in Addison, Lombard, Villa Park, Elmhurst, or the surrounding DuPage County area, the team at North Ave Immediate Care offers physician-led medical weight loss consultations. Understanding where you stand — medically, not just on a scale — is the right first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Americans have obesity right now?
According to the most recent NHANES data (August 2021–August 2023), 40.3% of U.S. adults age 20 and older have obesity. An additional 31.7% are classified as overweight.
How is obesity defined clinically?
Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher. Severe obesity is a BMI of 40.0 or higher. Overweight falls between 25.0 and 29.9.
Does BMI work the same for everyone?
Not exactly. BMI is a useful screening tool, but it has known limitations across different racial and ethnic groups. Health risks associated with overweight may begin at lower BMI thresholds for Asian adults. BMI may overestimate body fat for Black adults. Clinical evaluation — including body composition assessment and metabolic labs — provides a more complete picture than BMI alone.
Which age group has the highest obesity rates?
Based on 2021–2023 NHANES data, adults ages 40–59 have the highest obesity prevalence at 46.4%. Women in this age group have a rate of 47.4%.
Has obesity always been this common in the U.S.?
No. In 1960–1962, only 13.4% of U.S. adults had obesity. Today that figure exceeds 40% — more than a threefold increase in six decades. Severe obesity has increased even more dramatically, from 0.9% to over 10%.
Source
Fryar, C. D., Afful, J., & Saif, N. T. (2026, February). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults age 20 and older: United States, 1960–1962 through August 2021–August 2023 (NCHS Health E-Stat No. 111). National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174643
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have questions about your weight, BMI, or eligibility for medical weight loss treatment, speak with a qualified physician.
North Ave Immediate Care, 350 W North Ave, Addison, IL 60101.
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