Official US Obesity Rates Timeline
The History of State Obesity Prevalence
- There was a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States from 1990 through 2010.
- State prevalence prior to 2011 is provided for historical information only. Historical rates should not be compared to 2011 state obesity prevalence due to changes in survey methods.
- No state met the nation’s Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15%. Rather, in 2010, there were 12 states with an obesity prevalence of 30%. In 2000, no state had an obesity prevalence of 30% or more.
- The animated map above shows the history of United States obesity prevalence from 1985 through 2010.