Eye-opening Obesity Statistics For 2023

Insurers may charge higher premiums when providing health insurance to obese people.  In some cases, health insurance for obese people may cost 25% to 50% more than coverage for those with a BMI below 30. Some insurers may even deny coverage for obese people. 

So we curated obesity statistics worldwide and in the United States. We will also cover obesity statistics by age, gender, and socio-economic status. 

Obesity Statistics —Top Picks 

Here are our top picks for obesity statistics around the world and in the United States. 

• Globally, an estimated 500 million adults are obese. (Harvard T.H. Chan)
• One out of every three adults in the U.S. is obese. (Harvard T.H. Chan)
• All U.S. states and territories have an obesity rate of at least 20%. (CDC)
• Overall, adult obesity rates are higher for women. (CDC)
• The percentage of obese children is rising globally, with 39 million overweight and obese children under the age of five in 2020. (WHO)
• No less than 2.8 million people die from obesity every year worldwide. (WHO)
• The U.S. spends almost $150 billion per year on obesity-related medical costs. (CDC)
• Nearly one in four young adults is too heavy to serve in the U.S. military. (CDC)

What Is BMI? 

The most common metric used for assessing obesity in an individual is the body mass index (BMI) scale. The World Health Organization defines BMI as “a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults.

It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m²).

For example, an adult who weighs 70 kg and whose height is 1.75 m will have a BMI of 22.9.” The measured BMI values determine whether an individual is underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. These categories are defined by WHO using the cut-off points, which we will share in the table below. 

What Is the Fundamental Cause of Obesity?

The primary cause of obesity is the energy imbalance between the calories you consume and expend. Generally, it is caused by a combination of psychological, physical, genetic, and environmental factors. Some medical conditions and diseases can also contribute to the condition.  Some of the leading causes of obesity include:

• Lifestyle choices 
• Family history of obesity
• Social and economic problems 
• Unhealthy habits
• Underlying medical conditions  

Preventing obesity involves a combination of many factors, such as:

• Eating healthy foods
• Increasing physical activity
• Reducing stress
• Avoiding processed foods
• Monitoring your weight regularly

Impacts of Obesity 

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide, which seriously impacts people’s health.  Let’s look at some stats on obesity below. 

• In 2016, nearly 2 billion adults aged 18 and above were overweight, and over 650 million of them were obese. That means that in 2016, 40% of adults aged 18 and above were overweight or obese. (WHO)

• Unwanted weight gain resulting in obesity has become the primary driver of the global increase in non-communicable diseases and is itself now regarded as a non-communicable disease. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

• Globally, around 13% of adults have obesity (11% of men and 15% of women) — more than 1 in 10. (WHO)

• Over 60% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight. (easo.org)

• World obesity rates have almost tripled since 1975. (WHO)

• Overweight and obesity rates increase in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings, even though once this problem has been associated with high-income countries. (WHO)

• The number of overweight children under five has increased by nearly 24% in Africa since 2000. (WHO)

• In 2019, almost half of the children under five who were overweight or obese lived in Asia. (WHO)

Which Countries Have the Highest Prevalence of Obesity?

Source: worldpopulationreview.com

Nauru has the highest obesity rate in the world at 61%. It is a Pacific island nation with approximately 10,000 inhabitants. Their diet mainly consists of rice, noodles, soda, and tin food. The biggest health concern among the people of Nauru is Type 2 diabetes. 

The highest obesity rates by country is as follows:

The following countries have the lowest obesity rates:

What Percentage of Adults in the U.S. Are Obese?

• In the United States, 40% of adults are obese, and 18% of adults are severely obese. (Harvard T. H. Chan)

• In total, over two-thirds of adults in the United States are obese or overweight. (healthline.com)

• Overall, college-educated men and women had lower obesity prevalence compared to those with less education. (CDC)

• According to the American Obesity Association study, in just four more years (2025), the percentage of obese Americans will reach 50%, and by 2030, that figure can jump to 60%. (PRNewswire) 

• From 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, U.S. obesity prevalence rose from 30.5% to 42.4%. During the same period, the prevalence of extreme obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. (CDC)

• There was no major difference in the prevalence of obesity between men and women by age group or overall. (CDC)

Obesity by Age, According to Data Published by the CDC in 2017–2018:

• Women had a higher prevalence of extreme obesity than men, 11.5% and 6.9%, respectively. (CDC)

Obesity Disproportionately Affects U.S. Minorities

• The obesity rates for Hispanic, Mexican American, and non-Hispanic black populations are higher than those for Caucasians. (singlecare.com)

• Approximately three out of four Latina or Hispanic women are overweight or obese. (singlecare.com)

• Four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese. (singlecare.com)

Obesity in America by Race, According to Data Published by the CDC in 2017–2018:

Which States Have the Highest Obesity Rates in America?

Source: CDC

• The Southern states are considered the most obese states, five out of which have an obesity rate of over 35%. 

Which States Have the Lowest Obesity Rates in America?

• Many states have managed to control their obesity rates. Currently, Colorado and Washington D.C. lead the way with only 23.8% of their population obese, followed by Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California, with rates below 27%. 

How Much Does Obesity Cost the American Healthcare System? 

• Obesity currently costs the American healthcare system close to $150 billion a year. (CDC)

That is a staggering amount, and if obesity isn’t curbed, it will put a strain on the healthcare system. 

• Obese individuals spend around $1,900 more on medical care than normal-weight people. (US News)

• The medical costs related to obesity are expected to rise by nearly $48–66 billion by 2030. (National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Obesity in America also impacts other costs that are harder to measure. Obese workers tend to miss more working days than healthy workers due to frequent health problems. Employers are also likely to pay higher worker’s compensation and insurance premiums for obese workers. Some studies have revealed that the wages of obese workers are lower than those of healthy workers. 

What Percentage of Children Are Overweight and/or Obese?

Childhood obesity is a pressing issue in the United States, which puts adolescents and children at risk of poor health later in life. Despite the threat, the prevalence of obesity among adolescents and children remains high all around the world. 

• Obesity impacts one in five children in the United States. (CDC)

• In 2017–2018, 19.2% of children in America between 2 and 19 years old were obese. That’s approximately 14.4 million children in the United States. (CDC) Out of these children, one in eight preschoolers was obese. (CDC) 

The only good news here is that obesity rates among preschoolers have been dropping recently.

• Children who are obese or overweight are five times more likely to be overweight or obese adults than children of normal weight. (CDC)

That increases their risks of suffering from health complications and numerous other chronic diseases. 

• In 2020, there were 39 million obese and overweight children under the age of 5. (WHO)

The percentage of obese children has risen over the years, and if no steps are taken, it could spell disaster for the next generation of adults. 

• There were more than 340 million overweight and obese children and adolescents aged 5-19 in 2016. (WHO, CDC)

There are currently more obese children and adolescents between 5 and 10 than ever. That’s why measures must be taken to reduce these numbers and improve children’s quality of life.  Breaking the age groups down further:

Most parents think that their children look adorable when they put on a little weight, but there is a real risk of letting that get out of control. As a parent, you must inculcate healthy eating habits in your kids and ensure they get enough physical exercise. 

Childhood Obesity Prevalence by Race, According to Data Published by the CDC in 2017–2018:

Obesity and COVID-19 

• CDC has reported that adults with diabetes and heart disease are at a higher risk of COVID-19 complications. (CDC)

Obesity-related conditions worsen the effects of COVID-19, and it is harder to intubate patients with obesity. Ever since the start of the pandemic, numerous studies have reported that most of the sickest COVID-19 patients are obese or overweight. 

• Recent research involving around 400,000 patients found that obese people who contracted COVID-19 were 113% more likely than those with healthier weights to be hospitalized. Almost 75% were more likely to be admitted to the ICU and 48% more likely to die. (www.sciencemag.org)

• About 60% of COVID deaths are attributable to obesity.

• Obesity increases the risk of severe health complications from COVID-19. Those who are overweight may also be at heightened risk. (CDC)

• Obesity may increase the risk of hospitalization due to a COVID-19 infection by three times. (CDC)

• Obesity is known to decrease lung capacity and reserve. It can make ventilation more difficult. (CDC)

• A study of COVID-19 cases suggests that risks of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and death are higher with increasing BMI. (CDC)

• The heightened risk for hospitalization or death was particularly pronounced in those under age 65. (CDC)

• Over 900,000 adult COVID-19 hospitalizations occurred in the United States between the beginning of the pandemic and November 18, 2020. It is estimated that 271,800 (30.2%) of those hospitalizations were attributed to obesity. (CDC)

What Are the Common Health Effects of Obesity?

Being obese can hinder a person’s quality of life and lead to serious health problems like heart disease, sleep apnea, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and joint problems. Even though obesity isn’t a direct cause for any of these conditions, it increases the chances of suffering from health-related complications. 

• There were nearly 3 million hospital stays in the United States in 2009, with obesity being a contributing factor. (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project)

This statistic points to the rising number of hospitalization cases in the United States when obese patients were admitted with serious health complications. 

• No less than 350,000 people die from obesity in America every year. (Single Care)

There is a serious threat to your life if you suffer from obesity. The chances of obese individuals dying due to health complications are higher than those of healthy individuals. 

• Some diseases may also cause obesity in individuals. (CDC)

There are times when your lifestyle choices are not to be blamed for your obesity. Some diseases may cause obesity, including Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and insulin resistance. 

• 65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight. (easo.org)

Around the world, obesity is one of the top five leading causes of death, contributing to nearly 3 million obesity deaths annually. The other leading causes are high blood glucose, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure. 

• The size of your waist may increase your risk for diabetes. (National Center for Biotechnology Information)

Researchers have found that men with waist circumferences in the highest 10% of measurements were 20 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than others. Waist measurements can also help predict which people with low or normal weight may develop diabetes. 

• Obesity can lead to over 60 chronic diseases. (healthline.com)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise now, but being obese or overweight increases your risk of suffering from dozens of health complications and diseases. These diseases include cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke. 

Steps to Take to End Obesity

Wondering how to fight obesity? Due to the harmful impact of obesity on society and an individual’s health, households, communities, and governments need to take appropriate steps to end obesity. The food industry can play a major role here by promoting healthier diets by:

• Ensuring processed foods have reduced amounts of sugar, fat, and salt content.
• Making nutritious and healthy choices affordable and available to all consumers. 
• Restricting the marketing of foods high in fats, salt, and sugars, especially the ads aimed at teenagers and children. 
• Introducing regular physical activity in the house and workplace. 

What Can You Do as an Individual?

Since obesity rates in America are high, we should understand that obesity isn’t going to be eradicated if individuals don’t take responsibility for their actions. They must incorporate a healthy diet into their daily life and make an effort to get regular physical activity.  It may be hard, but you should try:

• Limit the intake of food that is rich in sugars and fats.
• Incorporate vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains into your diet. 
• Engage in regular physical activity every day (60 minutes for children, 150 minutes for adults). 

Final Verdict 

Obese and overweight people face a lot of health concerns and complications. Being obese or overweight increases a person’s risk for many underlying medical conditions and diseases. Unfortunately, obesity rates are rising in the United States and worldwide, and something must be done to stop this epidemic.  Since obesity is preventable, following a healthy diet regimen combined with regular exercise can help you lose weight and maintain it. The obesity statistics we shared today should be an eye-opener for many people as the consequences of obesity will cripple your quality of life and take its toll on your overall health and lifespan.