Between 2015 and 2018, obesity rates in U.S. children and adolescents stood at 19.3 and 20.9 percent, respectively. This is a noteworthy increase compared to the percentages seen between 1988 and 1994.
U.S. high school obesity rates
Roughly 18 percent of black, as well as Hispanic students in the United States, were obese between 2016 and 2017. Male obesity rates were noticeably higher than those of female students for each of the ethnicities during the measured period. For example, about 22 percent of male Hispanic high school students were obese, compared to 14 percent of female students. The American states with the highest number of obese high school students in 2019 included Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively. Mississippi had a high school student obesity rate of over 23 percent that year.
Physically inactive Americans
Adults from Mississippi and Arkansas were also reported to be some of the least physically active people in the United States in 2018. When surveyed, over 30 percent of adults from Kentucky and Arkansas had not exercised within the preceding 30 days. The national physical inactivity average stood at approximately 26 percent that year.
Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018
Characteristic
6-11 years
12-19 years
2015-2018
19.3%
20.9%
2013-2016
17.9%
20.6%
2011-2014
17.5%
20.5%
2009-2012
17.9%
19.4%
2007-2010
18.8%
18.2%
2005-2008
17.4%
17.9%
2003-2006
17%
17.6%
2001-2004
17.5%
17%
1999-2002
15.9%
16%
1988-1994
11.3%
10.5%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of children/adolescents11.3%11.3%15.9%15.9%17.5%17.5%17%17%17.4%17.4%18.8%18.8%17.9%17.9%17.5%17.5%17.9%17.9%19.3%19.3%10.5%10.5%16%16%17%17%17.6%17.6%17.9%17.9%18.2%18.2%19.4%19.4%20.5%20.5%20.6%20.6%20.9%20.9%6-11 years12-19 years1988-19941999-20022001-20042003-20062005-20082007-20102009-20122011-20142013-20162015-2018
0%5%10%15%20%25%
Add this content to your personal favorites. These can be accessed from the favorites menu in the main navigation.
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (March 2, 2021). Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 22, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/
US Department of Health and Human Services. "Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018." Chart. March 2, 2021. Statista. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/
US Department of Health and Human Services. "Percentage of U.S. Children and Adolescents Who Were Obese in Selected Periods between 1988 and 2018." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Mar 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/
US Department of Health and Human Services, Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/ (last visited February 22, 2025)
Percentage of U.S. children and adolescents who were obese in selected periods between 1988 and 2018 [Graph], US Department of Health and Human Services, March 2, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/285035/percentage-of-us-children-and-adolescents-who-were-obese/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.