Obesity in men vs. women in United States of America
United States of America: Obesity in men vs. women was 39.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Obesity in men vs. women in United States of America, 1980–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, obesity in men vs. women in United States of America stood at 39.6%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, obesity in men vs. women in United States of America peaked at 39.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 1980.
United States of America ranks 10th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Obesity in men vs. women in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 10.5% | — |
| 1981 | 11.0% | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 11.5% | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 12.1% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 12.6% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 13.2% | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 13.8% | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 14.4% | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 15.1% | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 15.8% | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 16.5% | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 17.3% | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 18.1% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 18.9% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 19.8% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 20.8% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 21.7% | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 22.7% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 23.7% | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 24.7% | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 25.8% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 26.9% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 28.0% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 29.1% | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 30.1% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 31.1% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 32.1% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 33.0% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 33.8% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 34.5% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 35.1% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 35.7% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 36.1% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 37.0% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 37.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 38.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 38.4% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.6% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 38.8% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 39.0% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 39.2% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 39.4% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 39.6% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.0% | 10.5% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.4% | 16.5% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 25.8% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.1% | 35.1% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.2% | 38.8% | 39.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- 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)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0333 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -1.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0357 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is obesity in men vs. women in United States of America?
- Obesity in men vs. women in United States of America was 39.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest obesity in men vs. women recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest obesity in men vs. women recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 1980.
- How does United States of America rank for obesity in men vs. women?
- United States of America ranks 10th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is obesity in men vs. women rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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 Obesity in men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index (BMI) equal to, or greater than, 30. BMI is a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.