The document examines trends in obesity among US adults between 1985 and 2010 using data from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. It shows that in 1990, most states had obesity prevalence below 10%, but that by 2000 no state was below 10% and over 20 states were between 20-24%. By 2010, no state was below 20% prevalence, 36 states were at or above 25%, and 12 states had reached or exceeded 30% prevalence.

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

2. ObesityObesity TrendsTrends Among U.S. AdultsAmong U.S. Adults
Between 1985 and 2010Between 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. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
2000
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990, 2000, 2010
(*BMI ≥30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)
2010
1990
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

13. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

14. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

15. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

16. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

17. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

18. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

19. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

20. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

21. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

22. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

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

24. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

25. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

26. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

27. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

28. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

29. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

30. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%

31. Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.
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%