Between 1985 and 2010, obesity among U.S. adults increased dramatically. In 1985, most states had obesity prevalence below 10%. By 2000, no state was below 10% and many were between 20-24%. By 2010, no state was below 20%, over 30 states were at or above 25%, and 12 states had reached 30% or greater prevalence of obesity. This document analyzed obesity trend data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System between 1985 and 2010.

1. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
Between 1985 and 2010
Definitions:
• Obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
• Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of an adult’s
weight in relation to his or her height, specifically the
adult’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of
his or her height in meters.

2. Obesity Trends Among U.S. Adults
Between 1985 and 2010
Source of the data:
• The data shown in these maps were collected through
CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
(BRFSS). Each year, state health departments use
standard procedures to collect data through a series
of telephone interviews with U.S. adults. Height and
weight data are self-reported.
• Prevalence estimates generated for the maps may
vary slightly from those generated for the states by
BRFSS (http://aps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss) as slightly
different analytic methods are used.

3. • In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk
Factor Surveillance System, 10 states had a prevalence of
obesity less than 10% and no state had prevalence equal
to or greater than 15%.
• By 2000, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than
10%, 23 states had a prevalence between 20–24%, and no
state had prevalence equal to or greater than 25%.
• In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than
20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence equal to or greater
than 25%; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West
Virginia) had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30%.

4. Citations
• Mokdad AH, et al. The spread of the obesity epidemic in the
United States, 1991–1998. JAMA 1999;282:16:1519–22.
• Mokdad AH, et al. The continuing epidemics of obesity and
diabetes in the United States. JAMA 2001;286:10:1519–22.
• Mokdad AH, et al. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-
related health risk factors, 2001. JAMA 2003;289:1:76–9.
• CDC. State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults —
United States, 2005. MMWR 2006;55(36):985–8.
• CDC. State-specific prevalence of obesity among adults —
United States, 2007. MMWR 2008;57(28):765–8.
• CDC. Vital signs: State-specific prevalence of obesity among
adults — United States, 2009. MMWR 2010;59:1–5.

5. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010
(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)
1990 2000
2010
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

6. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1985
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

7. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1986
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

8. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1987
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

9. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1988
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

10. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1989
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

11. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

12. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1991
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

13. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1992
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

14. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1993
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

15. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1994
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

16. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1995
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

17. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1996
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

18. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1997
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

19. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1998
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

20. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1999
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

21. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2000
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

22. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2001
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

23. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2002
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

24. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2003
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

25. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2004
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

26. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2005
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

27. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2006
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

28. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2007
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

29. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2008
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

30. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2009
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

31. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2010
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.