Obesity prevalence among U.S. adults aged 18 and over 2011-2020
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen gradually over the past decade. As of 2020, almost 32 percent of the population aged 18 years and older was obese. Obesity is a growing problem in many parts of the world but is particularly troubling in the United States.
Obesity in the United States
The states with the highest prevalence of obesity are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama. As of 2020, a shocking 39 percent of the population in West Virginia were obese. Obesity is more prevalent among men than women and is least prevalent among those aged 20 to 39 years. The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older who are obese has grown in recent years, compounding health issues that develop with age.
Health impacts of obesity
Obesity is linked to several negative health impacts including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Unsurprisingly, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased in the United States over the years. As of 2017, around 9.4 percent of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Some of the most common types of cancers caused by obesity include breast cancer in postmenopausal women, colon and rectum cancer, and corpus and uterus cancer.
Obesity in the United States
The states with the highest prevalence of obesity are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama. As of 2020, a shocking 39 percent of the population in West Virginia were obese. Obesity is more prevalent among men than women and is least prevalent among those aged 20 to 39 years. The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older who are obese has grown in recent years, compounding health issues that develop with age.
Health impacts of obesity
Obesity is linked to several negative health impacts including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Unsurprisingly, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased in the United States over the years. As of 2017, around 9.4 percent of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Some of the most common types of cancers caused by obesity include breast cancer in postmenopausal women, colon and rectum cancer, and corpus and uterus cancer.
