From 2019 to 2021, obesity among pregnant women in the United States was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native women and Black women. This statistic depicts the percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity.
Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity
Characteristic
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Black
White
Hispanic
Underweight
2%
5.7%
2.8%
2.8%
2.2%
Normal
28.9%
58.3%
30.3%
44%
33.3%
Overweight
27.2%
24.7%
26.7%
25.9%
31%
Obese
41.9%
11.2%
40.2%
27.3%
33.5%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of pregnant women2%2%28.9%28.9%27.2%27.2%41.9%41.9%5.7%5.7%58.3%58.3%24.7%24.7%11.2%11.2%2.8%2.8%30.3%30.3%26.7%26.7%40.2%40.2%2.8%2.8%44%44%25.9%25.9%27.3%27.3%2.2%2.2%33.3%33.3%31%31%33.5%33.5%American Indian and Alaska NativeAsianBlackWhiteHispanicUnderweightNormalOverweightObese
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
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Of the 11,025,479 births in the United States in 2019–2021, data were missing for 2.1% (230,056) for BMI.
Supplementary notes
The timing of prenatal care is determined by the month it began, based on the date of the first prenatal visit, date of birth, and gestational age.
Race groups are non-Hispanic, single race. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race. The total percent does not add to 100 due to groups not included in the analysis.
Prepregnancy BMI is defined as the mother’s weight before pregnancy divided by the mother’s height (inches) squared, multiplied by 703. BMI under 18.5: Underweight BMI 18.5 to 24.9: Normal or Healthy Weight BMI 25.0 to 29.9: Overweight BMI 30.0 and over: Obese
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NCHS, & CDC. (March 5, 2024). Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/
NCHS, und CDC. "Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity." Chart. March 5, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/
NCHS, CDC. (2024). Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/
NCHS, and CDC. "Percentage of Pregnant Women in The United States from 2019 to 2021 Who Were Obese, Overweight, Normal Weight, or Underweight, by Race/Ethnicity." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/
NCHS & CDC, Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/ (last visited February 19, 2025)
Percentage of pregnant women in the United States from 2019 to 2021 who were obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, by race/ethnicity [Graph], NCHS, & CDC, March 5, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1460402/bmi-pregnant-women-in-the-us-by-race/
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