Body mass index of veterans compared to general population U.S. 2021

As of 2021, around 45 percent of veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001 and who responded to the annual Wounded Warrior Project Survey in 2021 were obese. In comparison, around 42 percent of the general U.S. population was obese in 2017-2018. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a U.S. charity and veteran organization for veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. This statistic shows the body mass index of WWP members in the United States compared to the general population as of 2021.

Body mass index of U.S. veteran and active service members of the Wounded Warrior Project compared to the general population as of 2021*

Characteristic	WWP Warriors	U.S. General**
Normal/Healthy weight	12.8%	15.7%
Overweight	35.2%	31.1%
Obese	45.1%	42.4%
Severely obese	6.5%	9.2%
Underweight	0.3%	1.6%

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Release date

February 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

June 2 to August 30, 2021

Number of respondents

17,693 respondents

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

* Respondents were members of the Wounded Warrior Project and are veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001.
** Figures represent 2017-2018 age-adjusted obesity rates of U.S. adults (20 years and older).

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