From 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents was 19.7% 1 . This means that approximately 14.7 million U.S. youths aged 2–19 years have obesity.
For children, obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex.
The prevalence of obesity increased with age. From 2017 to March 2020, obesity prevalence was 12.7% among U.S. children 2–5 years old, 20.7% among those 6–11, and 22.2% among adolescents 12–19. [1]
Overall, obesity prevalence was highest in Hispanic children (26.2%) and non-Hispanic Black children (24.8%) followed by non-Hispanic white (16.6%) and non-Hispanic Asian (9.0%) children. [1]
Among U.S. girls, obesity prevalence was highest among non-Hispanic Black girls (30.8%). Among U.S. boys, obesity prevalence was highest among Hispanic boys (29.3%). [1]
Obesity prevalence increased as family income decreased. Obesity prevalence was:
CDC works with the US Department of Agriculture to analyze obesity data for U.S. children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Learn more about WIC and view recent trends.
Health care for obesity is expensive for patients and the health care system. In 2019 dollars, the estimated annual medical cost of obesity among U.S. children was $1.3 billion. Medical costs for children with obesity were $116 higher per person per year than for children with healthy weight. Medical costs for children with severe obesity were $310 higher per person per year than for children with healthy weight. [2]
Information about obesity among adults in the U.S.
What BMI is, how it is used, and how it is interpreted.
Calculate BMI, BMI percentile, and BMI category for children and adolescents 2–19.
CDC encourages the use of person-first language when discussing obesity and other chronic diseases. For example, say "children with obesity" rather than "obese children." Read more about People-First Language for Obesity and Weight Bias and Stigma .
