Overweight is body mass index (BMI) of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, obesity is BMI at or above 30.0 kg/m2, and severe obesity is BMI at or above 40.0 kg/m. Normal weight is BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
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Share of U.S. adults who were severely obese from 1988 to 2018
The prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States has increased more than three-folds in the last three decades with 9.2 percent of adults severely obese in 2018.
This statistic presents the prevalence of severe obesity (BMI of 40 kg/m2 and over) among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018.
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NCHS (NHANES), & CDC. (January 29, 2021). Prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/
NCHS (NHANES), und CDC. "Prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018." Chart. January 29, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/
NCHS (NHANES), CDC. (2021). Prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/
NCHS (NHANES), and CDC. "Prevalence of Severe Obesity among Adults in The United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 29 Jan 2021, /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/
NCHS (NHANES) & CDC, Prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Prevalence of severe obesity among adults in the United States from 1988-1994 to 2017-2018 [Graph], NCHS (NHANES), & CDC, January 29, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1241603/us-adults-severely-obese-last-three-decades/