Temporal Trends of the Obesity Epidemic in the United States

Obesity has emerged as a major public health concern in the United States, with prevalence increasing steadily over the past 4 decades. This mini-review summarizes recent trends and subgroup disparities using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and related publications.

Data from NHANES cycles conducted between 1988 and 2023 were reviewed to examine temporal trends in adult obesity prevalence, with particular attention to differences by age, sex, race, and interactions between sex and age as well as sex and race.

The prevalence of adult obesity increased from approximately 15% in the late 1970s to 42.4% in 2017-2018. For the first time in nearly 3 decades, consecutive declines were observed, with prevalence falling to 40.3% in 2021-2023. Disparities persist: middle-aged adults and non-Hispanic Black females continue to experience the highest prevalence of obesity, whereas non-Hispanic Asian populations consistently exhibit the lowest rates.

Recent declines may indicate progress in obesity control; however, targeted and equity-focused interventions remain essential to sustain improvements and reduce persistent disparities.