Obesity Statistics and Facts You Need to Know in 2025

The Obesity Statistics and Facts paint a concerning picture. The epidemic first appeared in the U.S. around 1980 with a rapid rise in prevalence, hitting 15% for adults aged 20 to 74 years old. This upward trend continued, reaching 23.3% by the early ’90s, and the increase was consistent across both genders and all major ethnic groups.

To provide the most current data, we analyzed recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our research included data from major surveys like NHANES and BRFSS, along with recent academic papers and expert insights from public health specialists. Here’s a breakdown of what the data reveals today.

Understanding Obesity: Key Definitions and Context

Obesity is a health condition marked by an increase in the size and total amount of fat cells in the body. It generally occurs when your energy intake (calories consumed) exceeds your energy expenditure (calories burned).

Health care providers commonly use Body Mass Index (BMI) to screen for obesity in adults. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s body mass (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in meters).

• Adult Obesity is defined by the WHO as having a BMI greater than or equal to 30.
• Overweight is defined as having a BMI greater than or equal to 25.
• For children and adolescents (ages 12 to 17), obesity is often defined as having a BMI at the 95th percentile or greater when adjusted for age and sex.

What Are the Real Causes Behind Current Obesity Statistics and Facts?

It’s common for people to mistakenly blame obesity on a lack of willpower or poor behavior, but experts strongly disagree. According to Andrew Odegaard, Ph.D., an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, “The evidence points to strong biologic drivers and a greater environment that is inhospitable for most of the population in regards to preventing obesity.”

While some experts point to ultra-processed foods (high in sugar, salt, fat, and low in nutrients) as a major factor, most are hesitant to name a single cause. Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, a professor in nutrition and food studies, views obesity as a “systems” problem. This means it involves many complex, intertwined causes, making it a societal challenge rather than just an individual failure.

Adult Obesity Statistics and Facts for 2025

The U.S. currently has one of the highest levels of obesity globally, with experts describing the levels as “problematic for the population on many fronts.”

• Global Rate (2022): 16% of adults aged 18 and over were living with obesity, according to the WHO.
• U.S. Rate (2021–2023): Adult obesity prevalence in the U.S. is 40.3%. The rate is slightly higher in women (41.3%) than men (39.2%), based on NHANES data.
• Severe Obesity: This rate (BMI $\ge$ 40) was found in 9.4% of American adults, showing a significant 20% increase from 2013-2014 data.
• State-Level: Adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in 23 states, based on the most recent BRFSS data. West Virginia has the highest adult obesity rate at 41.2%, while Washington, D.C. has the lowest at 23.5%.

Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts

Childhood obesity is a growing global concern, with rates varying based on the age group studied.

• Global Children and Adolescents (5–19 years): The global prevalence reached 9.4% in 2025, according to a UNICEF report. This marks the first time obesity prevalence was higher than the prevalence of underweight in this age group.
• U.S. Children and Adolescents (6–17 years): Roughly 17%—or about one in six—of children and adolescents in this age group have obesity, according to 2022–2023 data from the NSCH.
• U.S. Adolescents (12–17 years): Research shows that about 21% of U.S. adolescents have obesity.

Are Certain Groups More Affected by Obesity?

Data consistently show that obesity affects different demographics unequally.

Age and Education

• Age: Adults aged 40 to 59 have the highest obesity prevalence at 46.4%, significantly higher than the 35.5% seen in adults aged 20 to 39.
• Education: Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree generally have lower rates of obesity compared to adults with less education.

Race, Ethnicity, and Income

Obesity disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic groups:

• Non-Hispanic Black children have the highest youth obesity prevalence at 23.5%.
• Hispanic children have a similarly high rate at 22.2%.
• Non-Hispanic Asian children have the lowest prevalence at 10.6%, with non-Hispanic White children at 13.2%.

Regarding income, children in the lowest income group (below the poverty level) show the highest rates of obesity at 24.1%, while those in the highest income group (four times the poverty level or greater) have the lowest rates at 10.4%.

The Economic and Health Impacts of Obesity

The consequences of obesity are severe, affecting health, society, and the global economy.

Economic Costs

The economic impact is staggering: if current trends continue, the global costs of overweight and obesity are projected to skyrocket to $3 trillion per year by 2030. This cost is expected to reach $18 trillion by 2060.

Health Consequences

Obesity is strongly linked to numerous serious health conditions in adults and children alike.

• For Adults:
  • Chronic Diseases: 23% of adults with obesity also have diabetes, and 58% have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Obesity is associated with increased rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sleep disorders, and premature death.
• For Children and Adolescents:
  • Youth living with obesity face a high risk of developing hypertension and depression.
  • Adolescent obesity is linked to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, sleep disorders, and an increased risk of mortality from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
  • Children with obesity are also likely to experience obesity as adults, increasing their lifetime risk of chronic diseases.

As Dr. Odegaard notes, people with obesity are impacted in “every facet of life—health, psychological, social.” While new pharmaceutical agents like GLP-1 agonists show promise, major shifts in the environment and society (especially the food environment) will likely be necessary to see significant reductions in prevalence.

Credit: Forbes.com