Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States
United States: Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese was 41.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States is 41.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States peaked at 41.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 1980.
That places United States 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 20.7% | — |
| 1981 | 21.5% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 22.4% | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 23.2% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 24.1% | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 24.9% | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 25.8% | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 26.7% | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 27.7% | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 28.6% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 29.6% | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 30.6% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 31.6% | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 32.6% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 33.5% | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 34.4% | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 35.3% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 36.2% | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 37.2% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 38.0% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 38.9% | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 39.7% | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 40.4% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 40.9% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 41.3% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 41.6% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 41.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 41.9% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 41.9% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 41.9% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 41.8% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 41.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 41.6% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 41.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 41.5% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 41.5% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 41.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 41.6% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 41.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 41.6% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 41.6% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 41.5% | -0.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 41.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.7%, 1.4× the median. (66 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 24.6% | 20.7% | 28.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.9% | 29.6% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 38.9% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.7% | 41.5% | 41.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.5% | 41.5% | 41.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More health data for United States
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States?
- Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese in United States was 41.5% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 41.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 1980.
- How does United States rank for share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese?
- United States ranks 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years old that are defined as either overweight or obese. This means their weight-for-height is more than one standard deviations from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards.