Skip Navigation LinksSkip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Safer Healthier People
Blue White
Blue White
bottom curve
 CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z spacer spacer
spacer
Blue curve MMWR spacer
spacer
spacer


Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail.

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.

References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from typeset documents. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices.

**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to mmwrq@cdc.gov.

Date last reviewed: 10/1/2009

HOME  |  ABOUT MMWR  |  MMWR SEARCH  |  DOWNLOADS  |  RSS |  CONTACT
POLICY  |  DISCLAIMER  |  ACCESSIBILITY

Safer, Healthier People

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop E-90, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A

 USA.GovDHHS

Department of Health
and Human Services