Find the latest data and trends on childhood obesity from major surveys that track rates at the national and state level, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the National Survey of Children’s Health, the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

National Trends

The latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that the national obesity rate among youth ages 2 to 19 is 18.5%. The rate varies among different age groups, with rates rising along with age. While overall obesity rates remain higher than they were a generation ago, the rise in rates has slowed in recent years, following decades of sharp increases starting in the early 1970s.

Since the 1976–1980 NHANES survey, overall childhood obesity rates have more than tripled, up from 5.5%. Among 2- to 5-year-olds, the rate more than doubled, from 5% to 13.9%, as did the rate of 6- to 11-year-olds with obesity, from 6.5% to 18.4%. Among teens ages 12 to 19, the rate quadrupled, from 5% to 20.6%.

Differences by Race and Ethnicity

The most recent NHANES from 2015-2016 shows substantial differences in obesity rates among children of different races and ethnicities. Obesity rates are higher among Latino children (25.8%) and Black children (22%) than among White children (14.1%) and Asian children (11.0%). Latino boys (28.0%) and Black girls (25.1%) are most likely to have obesity.

Differences by Age and Sex

The prevalence of obesity and severe obesity increases with age. In 2015-2016, 13.9% of children ages 2 to 5, 18.4% of children ages 6 to 11 and 20.6% of children ages 12 to 19 had obesity. Nearly 2% of children ages 2 to 5, 5.2% of children ages 6 to 11 and 7.7% of children ages 12 to 19 had severe obesity.

Boys are slightly more likely to have obesity than girls. In 2015-2016, 19.1% of boys had obesity and 17.8% of girls ages 2 to 19 had obesity. Between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, the obesity rate of boys went up 11%, while the percent of girls with obesity increased by 4%.

Early Childhood Obesity Rates (WIC)

Data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) show a statistically significant decrease in obesity among 2- to 4-year-old children who were enrolled in the program—from 15.9% in 2010 to 14.5% in 2014. These reductions were widespread—rates decreased among children in most states and among all major racial and ethnic groups.

According to CDC analyses, a set of initiatives have contributed to these declines, including revisions to the WIC program’s food package, providing WIC recipients with more healthy food options and WIC efforts to promote and support breastfeeding.

• Obesity rates among WIC participants ages 2 to 4, decreased significantly in 31 states and increased significantly in only four states between 2010 and 2014. On a state level, obesity rates ranged from a low of 8.2% in Utah to a high of 20.0% in Virginia in 2014. 
  

• Racial and ethnic differences remain significant. Among WIC participants ages 2 to 4, 16.6% of American Indian/Alaska Natives, 16.1% of Latinos, 15.5% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific, 14% of Whites, 11.2% of Blacks and 10.1% of Asian/Pacific Islanders had obesity in 2014.

Obesity Rates in Children Ages 10-17 (NSCH)

In 2016, the National Survey of Children’s Health reported that nationwide, 16.1% of children ages 10 to 17 had obesity and 15% were overweight. The states with the highest rates of obesity for 10- to 17-year-olds were Mississippi (26.2%), Texas (21.3%) and West Virginia (19.9%). The states with the lowest rates of obesity were New Hampshire (8.5%), Washington (8.7%) and Colorado (9%).

High School Obesity Rates (YRBSS)

According to data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 14.8% of high school students (grades 9 to 12) nationwide had obesity and 15.6% were overweight. In 2015, YRBSS found 13.9% of high schoolers had obesity and 16.0% were overweight. Obesity levels among high school students show a statistically significant increase in the long-term; in 1999, obesity rates among high schoolers participating in the survey were at 10.6%.

The YRBSS data show that high schoolers who were male (17.5%), Black (18.2%) Latino (18.2%), and lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) (20.5%) had particularly high levels of obesity in 2017. Male students who were Latino (22.2%) and male student who were LGB (21.9%) had the highest rates among these groups.

The levels of obesity among high school students in different states varied considerably—from 9.5% in Colorado to 21.7% in Arkansas. This the first time that YRBSS identified states with high school obesity rates above 20%,
including in Arkansas (21.7%), Kentucky (20.2%) and Tennessee (20.5%).

States with the highest level of obesity—all in the South—were: Arkansas (21.7%), Kentucky (20.2%), Louisiana (17.0%), Oklahoma (17.1%), South Carolina (17.2%), Tennessee (20.5%), Texas (18.6%),and West Virginia
(19.5%). States with the lowest obesity rates were: Colorado (9.5%), Florida
(10.9%), Idaho (11.4%), Massachusetts (11.7%), Montana (11.7%) and Utah
(9.6%).

As with adult obesity rates, this site relies on multiple survey instruments to paint a complete picture of childhood obesity in America:

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey at CDC measures obesity rates among Americans ages two and older and is the primary source for national obesity data in this report of children ages 2 to 19. NHANES is particularly valuable in that it combines interviews with physical examinations and covers a wide age range of Americans. However, due to the delay between collection and reporting, the timeliness of its data can lag. 

The WIC Participant and Program Characteristics (WIC PC), a USDA survey analyzed for obesity trends by CDC, is a report of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children on the results of its biennial census of families served by the program. The data it collects include height and weight information. Because the program provides assistance only to low-income mothers and children under the age of 5, this dataset is limited. However, because obesity disproportionately affects the poor, and early childhood is a critical time for obesity prevention, the dataset provides valuable information for evaluating the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing obesity rates and health disparities.

The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) surveys parents of children ages 10 to 17 about all aspects of their children’s health, including height and weight. An advantage of this survey is that it includes both national and state-by-state data, so obesity rates between states can be compared. A disadvantage is that it relies on parent reports, not direct measures. Starting in 2016, the survey is conducted annually, but because the methodology changed in 2016, it is not possible to compare data collected previously with data collected in 2016 or later. Trends can be evaluated starting in 2016 and moving forward. 

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) tracks high-risk health behaviors among students in grades 9-12, including dietary behaviors and physical inactivity. The survey also measures the prevalence of obesity by asking respondents about their height and weight. As in other surveys that use self-reported data to measure obesity rates, this survey likely underreports the true rates. The survey is conducted in odd-numbered years. The most recent public YRBSS obesity data are from the 2017 survey.