Obesity Prevalence

Group 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Overall 23.5 (22.5-24.5) 27.5 (26.8-28.2) 31.9 (31.4-32.4) 36.6 (35.7-37.6) 41.5 (39.9-43.3)
Males 20.7 (19.4-22.1) 25.0 (24.2-25.9) 30.0 (29.3-30.6) 35.4 (34.0-36.7) 41.1 (39.0-43.4)
Females 26.4 (25.0-27.9) 30.0 (29.2-30.9) 33.9 (33.3-34.5) 38.0 (36.7-39.2) 42.1 (40.0-44.3)
White, non-Hispanic 20.7 (19.5-21.8) 24.7 (24.0-25.4) 29.2 (28.6-29.7) 34.0 (32.9-35.2) 39.1 (37.2-41.0)
Black, non-Hispanic 38.1 (33.3-43.1) 40.1 (37.5-42.8) 42.4 (40.7-44.1) 45.0 (41.6-48.4) 47.8 (42.0-53.3)
Hispanic 29.5 (27.3-31.6) 34.5 (33.2-35.7) 39.9 (39.1-40.7) 45.4 (43.8-47.1) 51.0 (48.2-53.8)
Other, non-Hispanic 14.7 (12.3-17.5) 16.3 (14.8-17.9) 18.1 (17.2-19.0) 20.1 (18.1-22.1) 22.3 (18.8-26.2)
Income: Less than $20k 27.0 (25.0-28.9) 32.1 (31.0-33.3) 37.8 (36.9-38.7) 43.7 (41.9-45.4) 49.7 (46.8-52.4)
Income: $20k to $50k 23.9 (22.3-25.4) 29.0 (28.1-29.9) 34.7 (34.0-35.5) 40.8 (39.3-42.4) 47.0 (44.5-49.6)
Income: $50k or more 20.1 (18.7-21.6) 23.9 (23.0-24.9) 28.1 (27.5-28.7) 32.7 (31.4-34.0) 37.7 (35.4-40.0)
NOTES:

• Data shown in the table are estimated means with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)

• Obesity is defined as a BMI value that is greater than or equal to 30

• Severe obesity is defined as a BMI value that is greater than or equal to 35

Severe Obesity Prevalence

Group 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Overall 8.5 (7.8-9.2) 10.5 (10.1-10.9) 12.8 (12.5-13.2) 15.4 (14.6-16.3) 18.3 (16.8-19.8)
Males 5.7 (5.0-6.4) 7.6 (7.1-8.0) 9.9 (9.5-10.3) 12.8 (11.7-13.7) 16.1 (14.1-18.1)
Females 11.5 (10.5-12.5) 13.5 (12.9-14.2) 15.8 (15.3-16.3) 18.3 (17.2-19.3) 20.9 (19.0-22.8)
White, non-Hispanic 7.6 (6.9-8.3) 9.4 (9.0-9.8) 11.5 (11.1-11.9) 13.9 (13.0-14.8) 16.4 (14.9-18.2)
Black, non-Hispanic 14.4 (11.5-17.7) 17.5 (15.7-19.5) 20.9 (19.6-22.3) 24.7 (21.9-27.7) 28.8 (23.6-34.0)
Hispanic 10.4 (9.0-11.8) 13.1 (12.1-14.0) 16.2 (15.5-16.8) 19.6 (18.1-21.0) 23.2 (20.6-25.9)
Other, non-Hispanic 4.5 (3.3-5.8) 5.2 (4.5-6.0) 6.1 (5.6-6.7) 7.2 (6.0-8.6) 8.4 (6.1-11.2)
Income: Less than $20k 10.7 (9.4-12.1) 13.6 (12.7-14.5) 17.0 (16.3-17.6) 20.7 (19.2-22.2) 24.6 (22.0-27.5)
Income: $20k to $50k 8.7 (7.7-9.6) 11.2 (10.6-11.9) 14.3 (13.7-14.8) 17.8 (16.5-19.1) 21.5 (19.3-23.8)
Income: $50k or more 6.4 (5.6-7.3) 8.1 (7.5-8.6) 10.1 (9.7-10.5) 12.4 (11.5-13.4) 15.1 (13.4-17.0)
NOTES:

• Data shown in the table are estimated means with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)

• Obesity is defined as a BMI value that is greater than or equal to 30

• Severe obesity is defined as a BMI value that is greater than or equal to 35

Charts for projected adult obesity vs gender in California

Charts for projected adult obesity vs race and ethnicity in California

Charts for projected adult obesity vs income level in California


All tables and charts based on data from: 

Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Giles CM, Flax CN, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:2440-50. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1909301

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