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QuickStats: Prevalence* of Obesity Among Adults Aged ≥20 Years, by Race/Ethnicity§ and Sex --- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, United States, 2003--2006

The figure shows the prevalence of obesity among adults aged >20 years, by race/ethnicity and sex for 2003-2006 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. According to the figure, the age-adjusted percentage of adults aged >20 years who were obese during 2003-2006 varied by race/ethnicity among women, ranging from 53.3% for non-Hispanic black women to 41.8% for Mexican-American women and 31.6% for non-Hispanic white women. Obesity levels were more similar for Mexican-American men (28.8%), non-Hispanic black men (35.0%), and non-Hispanic white men (32.0%). None of the groups had met the Healthy People 2010 target of 15% (objective 19-02).

* Prevalence estimates are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Defined as having a body mass index (weight [kg] / height [m2]) ≥30.

§ The categories non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white include persons who reported only one race and exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Persons of Mexican-American ethnicity might be of any race.

95% confidence interval.

The age-adjusted percentage of adults aged ≥20 years who were obese during 2003--2006 varied by race/ethnicity among women, ranging from 53.3% for non-Hispanic black women to 41.8% for Mexican-American women and 31.6% for non-Hispanic white women. Obesity levels were more similar for Mexican-American men (28.8%), non-Hispanic black men (35.0%), and non-Hispanic white men (32.0%). None of the groups had met the Healthy People 2010 target of 15% (objective 19-02).

SOURCES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003--2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

Healthy People 2010 database. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov/data2010.

US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. With understanding and improving health and objectives for improving health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2000. Available at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

Alternative Text: The figure above shows the prevalence of obesity among adults aged >20 years, by race/ethnicity and sex for 2003-2006 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. According to the figure, the age-adjusted percentage of adults aged >20 years who were obese during 2003-2006 varied by race/ethnicity among women, ranging from 53.3% for non-Hispanic black women to 41.8% for Mexican-American women and 31.6% for non-Hispanic white women. Obesity levels were more similar for Mexican-American men (28.8%), non-Hispanic black men (35.0%), and non-Hispanic white men (32.0%). None of the groups had met the Healthy People 2010 target of 15% (objective 19-02).

Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


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Date last reviewed: 10/1/2009

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