CDC: Obesity Prevalence Tops 30% in U.S. Population

The prevalence of obesity among adults in the U.S. passed 30% for this first time ever last year, according to new numbers from the CDC.

That 30.4% figure (95% CI 29.49-31.26), is up from 29.8% (95% CI 28.98-30.52) in 2014. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or more.

The latest numbers, posted on the CDC website, were taken from an early release of findings from January to September of the National Health Interview Survey.

Researchers, led by Tainya C. Clarke, PhD, of National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in Atlanta, also found that more than 45% of black females ages 20 and over were obese (95% CI 41.96-48.39) compared with 27.7% of white females (95% CI 26.20-29.11) and 33.8% of Hispanic females (95% CI 31.36-36.30).

Black males had an obesity rate of 34.5% (95% CI 31.11-37.92) versus 30.3% and 31.1% for whites and Hispanics, respectively.

For both sexes combined, the prevalence of obesity was highest among adults ages 40–59 (34.9%), followed by adults ages 60 and up (30.1%), and ages 20–39 (26.7%).

In comparison, in 1997, the prevalence of obesity among adults ages 20 and over was 19.5% (95% CI 18.9-20.0).

There was better news when it came to physical activity, with the data showing that 21.1% of U.S. adults (ages ≥18) met the federal physical activity guidelines for both aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities. That number didn't vary significantly from 2014, but it was only 16.0% in 2006, according to the report.

When only aerobic activity was taken into account, the data showed that nearly half (49.5%, 95% CI 48.47-50.67%) of adults met the guidelines. In 2006, only 41.4% did. About 44% percent of Hispanic adults and of black adults met the aerobic activity recommendations versus 53.3% of white adults. For both sexes, the percentage of adults who met the recommendations declined after age 24.

The data is preliminary and has yet to undergo final editing and weighting, NCHS cautioned.

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