Prevalence of obesity among population aged 2–19 years by age U.S. 1963-2018

The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States has risen gradually over the past few decades. From 2017 to 2018, around 20 percent of U.S. children and adolescents aged 6 to 11 years were obese. This statistic illustrates the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States aged 2–19 years from 1963 to 2018, by age.

Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the United States aged 2–19 years from 1963 to 2018, by age*

Characteristic	2-5 years	6-11 years	12-19 years
2017–2018	13.4%	20.3%	21.2%
2015–2016	13.9%	18.4%	20.6%
2013–2014	9.4%	17.4%	20.6%
2011–2012	8.4%	17.7%	20.5%
2009–2010	12.1%	18%	18.4%
2007–2008	10.1%	19.6%	18.1%
2005–2006	10.7%	15.1%	17.8%
2003–2004	13.9%	18.8%	17.4%
2001–2002	10.6%	16.2%	16.7%
1999–2000	10.3%	15.1%	14.8%
1988–1994	7.2%	11.3%	10.5%
1976-1980	5%	6.5%	5%
1971-1974	5%	4%	6.1%
1966-1970**	-	-	4.6%
1963-1965	-	4.2%	-

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Release date

January 2021

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

From 1963 to 2018

Age group

2-19 years

Method of interview

Face-to-face interview

Supplementary notes

* Obesity is BMI at or above the 95th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts.
** Data are for adolescents aged 12–17, not 12–19.

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