what percent of americans are obese
About 40% of American adults are currently classified as obese, based on the latest CDC-based survey estimates from 2021–2023 (around 4 in 10 adults).
Quick Scoop: What percent of Americans are obese?
- Recent national survey data show that 40.3% of U.S. adults have obesity.
- Nearly 1 in 10 adults (9.4%) have severe obesity.
- In 1990, adult obesity was about 19% , but by 2022 it had climbed to about 42.5% , and it’s projected to reach roughly 47% by 2035 if trends continue.
- Put simply: today, a bit more than 4 out of every 10 American adults are medically obese, and the share is still inching upward.
By age and sex (short breakdown)
- Women: 41.3% have obesity; men: 39.2%.
- Ages 20–39: 35.5% have obesity.
- Ages 40–59: 46.4% have obesity (the highest group).
- Ages 60+: 38.9% have obesity.
Here’s a compact view:
| Group | Percent with obesity |
|---|---|
| All U.S. adults | 40.3% | [3]
| Men | 39.2% | [3]
| Women | 41.3% | [3]
| Ages 20–39 | 35.5% | [3]
| Ages 40–59 | 46.4% | [3]
| Ages 60+ | 38.9% | [3]
Why this is in the news
- A major 2026 analysis in JAMA found obesity more than doubled since 1990 and projected that almost half of U.S. adults (about 47%) will be obese by 2035.
- That same research estimates about 126 million American adults could be living with obesity by 2035 if nothing changes.
In everyday terms: if you put 10 random American adults in a room today, about 4 will already be obese—and, unless trends reverse, it may be closer to 5 within a decade.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.