Trends and Disparities in Obesity-Related Mortality Among U.S. Adults: A CDC WONDER Analysis (1968-2025)

Obesity-related mortality in the United States has increased substantially over recent decades, yet long-term national trends and demographic disparities remain incompletely characterized.

To evaluate nationwide trends in obesity-related mortality among U.S. adults and identify disparities by age, sex, race, and geographic region from 1968 to 2025.

We performed a retrospective analysis using CDC WONDER mortality data from 1968 to 2025 (nearly six decades). Adults aged ≥ 25 years with obesity identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death were included. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population were calculated using the 2000 U.S. standard population, and temporal trends were evaluated using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC).

From 1968 to 2025, a total of 211,479 obesity-related deaths were recorded among U.S. adults aged ≥ 25 years. AAMRs increased from 1.15 to 3.32 per 100,000, peaking in 2021 (4.54 per 100,000). Mortality rates were consistently higher among males, older adults, Black populations, and residents of the Southern United States, while younger adults (25-44 years) experienced the most rapid rise in mortality.

Obesity-related mortality in the United States has more than tripled over nearly six decades, with substantial demographic and geographic disparities. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted, culturally tailored, and age-specific public health interventions to address the growing burden of obesity.