Body weight status of adults: United States, 1997-98

This report presents estimates for underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity for U.S. adults aged 18 years and over. Based on self-reported height and weight, data are shown for selected population subgroups for both sexes and for men and women separately.

Body weight status of U.S. adults was estimated using data from the 1997-98 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 68,556 adults aged 18 years and over and Body Mass Index (BMI) (weight/height2) criteria established by the World Health Organization (WHO). The NHIS is administered in households throughout the United States using computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI). The combined overall response rate in 1997-98 was 77.2%. Statistics shown in this report were age adjusted to the 2000 projected U.S. population.

Over one-half of adults (54.7%) were overweight and 1 in 5 (19.5%) were obese in 1997-98. Women (49.5%) were more likely than men (36.3%) to be of healthy weight although men and women were equally likely to be obese. Obesity was most prevalent among middle-aged adults, among black non-Hispanic adults and Hispanic adults, and among adults with less education and lower income. Rates of obesity by marital status differed by gender: married men (20.4%) had higher rates of obesity than separated and divorced men (16.8%), and married women (18.4%) had lower rates of obesity than separated and divorced women (23.2%). Obesity was lowest among adults living in the West and those living in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), but outside the central city (i.e., the suburbs).

Overweight and obesity were widespread in the United States in 1997-98 and prevalence varied significantly by population subgroup.