Statistics about Overweight

Prevalence and incidence statistics for Overweight:

See also prevalence and incidence page for Overweight

Prevalance of Overweight: 97.1 million American adults

Prevalance Rate: approx 1 in 3 or 35.70% or 97.1 million people in USA [about data]

Worldwide prevalence of Overweight: over 1 billion adults worldwide (WHO World Health Report, 2003)

Prevalance of Overweight: More than 60 percent of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight. One-quarter of American adults are also obese (Source: excerpt from Understanding Adult Obesity: NIDDK) ... Obesity affects about one in four adult Americans, and during any one year, over half of Americans go on a weight-loss diet or are trying to maintain their weight. (Source: excerpt from Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-Loss Program: NIDDK)

Prevelance statistics about Overweight:

The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Overweight:

• 35% of adults overweight in the USA (US Government Statistics)
• Overweight prevalence statistics for men in the USA:
  • 58% of men aged 20-34 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 67.6% of men aged 35-44 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 71.3% of men aged 45-54 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 72.5% of men aged 55-64 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 77.2% of men aged 65-74 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 66.4% of men aged over 75 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
• Overweight prevalence statistics for women in the USA:
  • 51.5% of women aged 20-34 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 63.6% of women aged 35-44 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 64.7% of women aged 45-54 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 73.1% of women aged 55-64 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 70.1% of women aged 65-74 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
  • 59.6% of women aged over 75 are overweight in the US 1999-2000 (Health United States, 2003, NCHS)
• 50% of women aged 20 to 74 are overweight or obese in the US (The National Women’s Health Information Center)
• 12% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 overweight in the USA (US Government Statistics)
• 6% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 overweight in the USA 1976-80 (US Government Statistics)
• 9% increase in adults overweight in the USA 1976-80 (US Government Statistics)
• 14% of children aged 6 to 11 overweight in the USA 1988-94 (US Government Statistics)
• 9% increase in adults overweight in the USA 1976-80 (US Government Statistics)
• Estimated 22 million children under 5 years are overweight worldwide(World Heart Federation Fact-Sheet, 2002)
• 1 in 4 children are overweight in the USA (World Heart Federation Fact-Sheet, 2002)
• 14% of women overweight in Canada 1996/97 (Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, Health Canada, 1996/97)
• 25% of men overweight in Canada 1996/97 (Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, Health Canada, 1996/97)
• 517 women per 1,000 population were overweight or obese in Australia 1999-2000 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 673 men per 1,000 population were overweight or obese in Australia 1999-2000 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 298 women per 1,000 population were overweight in Australia 1999-2000 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 482 men per 1,000 population were overweight in Australia 1999-2000 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 51.9% of female population are overweight in Australia 1999-2001 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 67.4% of male population are overweight in Australia 1999-2001 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
• 18% of population in China (WHO World Health Report, 2003)
• more about prevalence...»

Society statistics for Overweight

  Costs for Overweight: $99.2 billion total including direct $51.6 billion and indirect $47.6 billion (NIDDK)

  Costs for Overweight: Total cost: $99.2 billion

Direct cost: $51.6 billion (5.7 percent of the U.S. health expenditure)
Indirect cost: $47.6 billion (comparable to the economic costs of cigarette smoking)

About statistics:

This page presents a variety of statistics about Overweight. The term 'prevalence' of Overweight usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Overweight at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Overweight refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Overweight diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.