Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents Aged 2–19 Years: United States, 1963–1965 Through 2013–2014
by Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H., and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D., Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
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Results from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 17.2% of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2–
19 years are obese and another 16.2% are overweight.
Body mass index (BMI), expressed as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2), is commonly used to classify obesity among adults and is also recommended for use with children and adolescents. Cutoff criteria are based on the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States. Based on current recommendations from expert committees, children and adolescents with BMI values at or above the 95th percentile of the growth charts are categorized as obese. This differs from previous years in which children and adolescents above this cutoff were labeled overweight. This change in terminology reflects the labels used by organizations such as the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. For more information, see “Changes in Terminology for Childhood Overweight and Obesity”.pdf icon
Table 1 shows the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth aged 2–19 years from 1971–1974 through 2013–2014. The estimates for all children are shown by age in the figure.
Estimates of the prevalence of childhood obesity during the 1960s are available for certain age groups. Table 2 shows the prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2–5, 6–11, and 12–19 years since 1963–1965, by sex and age. The figure shows trends in obesity by age.
Table 3 shows the prevalence of obesity by race and Hispanic origin among youth aged 2–19 since 1988–1994.
Although BMI is widely used as a measure of body fat, at a given BMI level, body fat may vary by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin. For example, some research suggests that Asian persons may have more body fat than white persons, especially at lower BMIs, and that health risks may begin at a lower BMI among Asian persons compared with others.
NHANES, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, is a stratified, multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. A household interview and a physical examination are conducted for each survey participant. During the physical examination, conducted in a mobile examination center, height and weight are measured as part of a more comprehensive set of body measurements. These measurements are taken by trained health technicians, using standardized measuring procedures and equipment. Observations for persons missing a valid height or weight measurement and for pregnant females were not included in the data analysis.
For additional information on NHANES methods, visit the NHANES methods page.
Figure
Figure. Trends in obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years, by age: United States, 1963–1965 through 2013–2014
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NOTES: Obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts.
SOURCES: NCHS, National Health Examination Surveys II (ages 6–11) and III (ages 12–17); and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) I–III, and NHANES 1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, 2011–2012, and 2013–2014.
Tables
| Survey period | Sample (n) | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All1 | Boys | Girls1 | |||||||||||
| Overweight | Obesity | Overweight | Obesity | Overweight | Obesity | ||||||||
| 1971–1974 | 7,041 | 10.2 | (0.6) | 5.2 | (0.3) | 10.3 | (0.8) | 5.3 | (0.5) | 10.1 | (0.8) | 5.1 | (0.4) |
| 1976–1980 | 7,351 | 9.2 | (0.4) | 5.5 | (0.4) | 9.4 | (0.6) | 5.4 | (0.4) | 9.0 | (0.5) | 5.6 | (0.6) |
| 1988–1994 | 10,777 | 13.0 | (0.7) | 10.0 | (0.5) | 12.6 | (0.9) | 10.2 | (0.7) | 13.4 | (0.9) | 9.8 | (0.8) |
| 1999–2000 | 4,039 | 14.2 | (0.9) | 13.9 | (0.9) | 15.0 | (1.9) | 14.0 | (1.2) | 13.4 | (0.8) | 13.8 | (1.1) |
| 2001–2002 | 4,261 | 14.6 | (0.6) | 15.4 | (0.9) | 14.2 | (0.7) | 16.4 | (1.0) | 15.0 | (0.9) | 14.3 | (1.3) |
| 2003–2004 | 3,961 | 16.5 | (0.8) | 17.1 | (1.3) | 16.6 | (1.0) | 18.2 | (1.5) | 16.3 | (0.9) | 16.0 | (1.4) |
| 2005–2006 | 4,207 | 14.6 | (0.9) | 15.4 | (1.4) | 14.7 | (1.2) | 15.9 | (1.5) | 14.6 | (1.0) | 14.9 | (1.6) |
| 2007–2008 | 3,249 | 14.8 | (0.7) | 16.8 | (1.3) | 14.3 | (0.7) | 17.7 | (1.4) | 15.4 | (1.5) | 15.9 | (1.5) |
| 2009–2010 | 3,408 | 14.9 | (0.8) | 16.9 | (0.7) | 14.4 | (1.0) | 18.6 | (1.1) | 15.4 | (0.9) | 15.0 | (0.8) |
| 2011–2012 | 3,355 | 14.9 | (0.9) | 16.9 | (1.0) | 15.4 | (1.3) | 16.7 | (1.4) | 14.5 | (1.4) | 17.2 | (1.2) |
| 2013–2014 | 3,523 | 16.2 | (0.6) | 17.2 | (1.1) | 16.4 | (0.8) | 17.2 | (1.3) | 16.0 | (1.0) | 17.1 | (1.6) |
1Excludes pregnant females.
NOTES: Overweight is body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts. Obesity is BMI greater than or equal to the 95th percentile.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
| Survey period | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All1 | Boys | Girls1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2–5 years | 6–11 years | 12–19 years | 2–5 years | 6–11 years | 12–19 years | 2–5 years | 6–11 years | 12–19 years | ||||||||||
| 1963–1965 | — | 4.2 | (0.4) | — | — | 4.0 | (0.4) | — | — | 4.5 | (0.6) | — | ||||||
| 1966–19702 | — | — | 4.6 | (0.3) | — | — | 4.5 | (0.4) | — | — | 4.7 | (0.3) | ||||||
| 1971–1974 | 5.0 | (0.6) | 4.0 | (0.5) | 6.1 | (0.6) | 5.0 | (0.8) | 4.3 | (0.8) | 6.1 | (0.8) | 4.9 | (0.8) | 3.6 | (0.6) | 6.2 | (0.8) |
| 1976–1980 | 5.0 | (0.6) | 6.5 | (0.6) | 5.0 | (0.5) | 4.7 | (0.6) | 6.6 | (0.8) | 4.8 | (0.5) | 5.3 | (1.0) | 6.4 | (1.0) | 5.3 | (0.8) |
| 1988–1994 | 7.2 | (0.7) | 11.3 | (1.0) | 10.5 | (0.9) | 6.2 | (0.8) | 11.6 | (1.3) | 11.3 | (1.3) | 8.2 | (1.0) | 11.0 | (1.4) | 9.7 | (1.1) |
| 1999–2000 | 10.3 | (1.7) | 15.1 | (1.4) | 14.8 | (0.9) | 9.5 | (2.3) | 15.8 | (1.8) | 14.8 | (1.3) | 11.2 | (2.5) | 14.3 | (2.1) | 14.8 | (1.0) |
| 2001–2002 | 10.6 | (1.8) | 16.2 | (1.6) | 16.7 | (1.1) | 10.7 | (2.4) | 17.5 | (1.9) | 17.6 | (1.3) | 10.5 | (1.8) | 14.8 | (2.3) | 15.7 | (1.9) |
| 2003–2004 | 13.9 | (1.6) | 18.8 | (1.3) | 17.4 | (1.7) | 15.1 | (1.7) | 19.9 | (2.0) | 18.2 | (1.9) | 12.7 | (2.5) | 17.6 | (1.3) | 16.4 | (2.3) |
| 2005–2006 | 10.7 | (1.1) | 15.1 | (2.1) | 17.8 | (1.8) | 10.4 | (1.7) | 16.2 | (2.5) | 18.2 | (2.4) | 11.0 | (1.2) | 14.1 | (2.4) | 17.3 | (2.1) |
| 2007–2008 | 10.1 | (1.2) | 19.6 | (1.2) | 18.1 | (1.7) | 9.3 | (1.5) | 21.2 | (1.6) | 19.3 | (2.2) | 10.9 | (2.1) | 18.0 | (2.1) | 16.8 | (2.0) |
| 2009–2010 | 12.1 | (1.2) | 18.0 | (0.8) | 18.4 | (1.3) | 14.4 | (1.8) | 20.1 | (1.0) | 19.6 | (2.3) | 9.6 | (1.7) | 15.7 | (1.0) | 17.1 | (1.3) |
| 2011–2012 | 8.4 | (1.3) | 17.7 | (1.6) | 20.5 | (1.7) | 9.5 | (1.9) | 16.4 | (1.8) | 20.3 | (2.4) | 7.2 | (2.1) | 19.1 | (1.7) | 20.7 | (2.0) |
| 2013–2014 | 9.4 | (1.3) | 17.4 | (1.7) | 20.6 | (2.1) | 8.8 | (2.0) | 18.8 | (2.4) | 19.8 | (2.2) | 10.0 | (1.3) | 15.9 | (1.9) | 21.4 | (3.2) |
— Data not available. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1963–1965 and 1966–1970 did not include children aged 2–5.
1Excludes pregnant females starting with 1971–1974. Pregnancy status not available for 1963–1965 and 1966–1970.
2Data for 1966–1970 are for adolescents aged 12–17, not 12–19.
NOTE: Obesity is body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
| Survey period | Percent (standard error) | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Girls1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Non-Hispanic white | Non-Hispanic black | Non-Hispanic Asian | Hispanic | Mexican American | Non-Hispanic white | Non-Hispanic black | Non-Hispanic Asian | Hispanic | Mexican American | |||||||||||
| 1988–1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9.7 | (1.1) | 10.6 | (0.8) | — | — | 14.8 | (1.4) | 8.6 | (1.1) | 14.5 | (1.1) | — | — | 13.8 | (1.9) | |||||
| 1999–2000 | 10.9 | (1.5) | 16.4 | (1.2) | — | — | 23.5 | (1.5) | 11.1 | (1.8) | 21.4 | (1.4) | — | — | 16.8 | (1.9) | ||||
| 2001–2002 | 15.0 | (1.5) | 15.5 | (1.3) | — | — | 22.0 | (1.3) | 12.7 | (1.9) | 19.5 | (1.3) | — | — | 17.0 | (1.9) | ||||
| 2003–2004 | 17.8 | (2.2) | 16.4 | (1.5) | — | — | 22.0 | (1.6) | 14.9 | (1.9) | 23.8 | (1.4) | — | — | 16.1 | (2.3) | ||||
| 2005–2006 | 13.4 | (1.9) | 18.3 | (1.3) | — | — | 24.3 | (2.7) | 12.2 | (2.2) | 24.4 | (2.2) | — | — | 20.6 | (1.6) | ||||
| 2007–2008 | 15.6 | (1.9) | 17.3 | (2.2) | — | 24.5 | (1.7) | 24.9 | (2.3) | 14.9 | (2.5) | 22.8 | (2.4) | — | 17.3 | (1.7) | 16.6 | (2.5) | ||
| 2009–2010 | 16.1 | (1.8) | 24.3 | (2.8) | — | 23.4 | (1.4) | 24.0 | (1.7) | 11.7 | (1.1) | 24.3 | (2.6) | — | 18.9 | (1.8) | 18.2 | (2.5) | ||
| 2011–2012 | 12.6 | (2.4) | 19.9 | (1.1) | 11.5 | (2.1) | 24.1 | (1.4) | 24.2 | (1.5) | 15.6 | (2.1) | 20.5 | (3.1) | *5.6 | (2.4) | 20.6 | (1.5) | 21.1 | (1.7) |
| 2013–2014 | 15.9 | (2.0) | 16.8 | (1.9) | 12.1 | (3.0) | 20.6 | (2.0) | 19.5 | (2.1) | 14.6 | (2.8) | 20.9 | (1.6) | 5.0 | (1.0) | 22.1 | (2.1) | 24.2 | (2.8) |
— Data not available.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 43% and should be used with caution because it does not meet standards of reliability or precision.
1Excludes pregnant females.
NOTE: Obesity is body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile from the sex-specific BMI-for-age 2000 CDC Growth Charts.
SOURCE: NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
For more detailed estimates, see:
- Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999–2000. JAMA 288(14):1728–32. 2002.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, McDowell MA, Tabak CJ, Flegal KM. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004. JAMA 295(13):1549–55. 2006.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Flegal KM. High body mass index for age among US children and adolescents, 2003–2006. JAMA 299(20):2401–5.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Lamb MM, Flegal KM. Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007–2008. JAMA 303(3):242–9. 2010.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999–2010. JAMA 307(5):483–90. 2012.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. JAMA 311(8):806–14. 2014.
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Lawman HG, Fryar CD, Kruszon-Moran D, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Trends in obesity prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States, 1988–1994 through 2013–2014. JAMA 315(21):2292–9. 2016
This Health E-Stat supersedes the earlier version below:
• Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1963–1965 Through 2011–2012.