Men, Women, Kids All Heavier, Not Much Taller Than 20 Years Ago

For Immediate Release: August 3, 2016

Contact: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Office of Communication (301) 458-4800
E-mail: paoquery@cdc.gov

Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2011–2014. Vital and Health Statistics Report Series 3, No. 39

The average U.S. man stands approximately 5-9 ¼ and weighs 195.7 pounds while the average woman stands 5-3 ¾ and weighs 168.5 pounds, according to 2011-2014 data released by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. This is a change from 1988-94, when the average man was about the same height, but weighed 15 pounds less (180.7 lbs.) and the average woman stood the same height but weighed over 16 pounds less (152.3 lbs.). [1988-94 data can be found in this report: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_11/sr11_249.pdf]

The new data, collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) are featured in a report, “Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2011-2014.”

Non-Hispanic white men on average weigh 15.7 lbs. heavier than two decades ago and Non-Hispanic black men on average weigh nearly 18 lbs. heavier. Both NH white and NH black men are 1/5 of an inch taller on average compared with 1988-94.

Non-Hispanic white women are 17.6 lbs. heavier on average than two decades ago, while Non-Hispanic black women are on average 22 lbs. heavier. Non-Hispanic white women are 1/5 of an inch taller than in 1988-94 while non-Hispanic black women are the same height as two decades ago.

Differences are seen among children as well. For example, the average 11-year-old old boy weighs 13.5 lbs. more than in 1988-94 and is an inch taller, while the average 11-year-old girl weighs 7.4 lbs. more than in 1988-94 and is about the same height.

The report featuring the 2011-2014 is available on-line at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_03/sr03_039.pdf