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Background
Consistent evidence indicates that preventing excess body weight and obesity reduces the risk of several types of cancer, including colorectal, breast (among women who have gone through menopause), uterine, esophageal, renal cell (kidney), liver, and pancreatic cancers.
Research has also identified an association between obesity and worse prognosis and outcomes among some cancer patients, particularly those with breast, prostate, liver, and colon cancer. Excess body weight is thought to contribute to as many as one in five cancer-related deaths in the United States.
While there is still much to be learned about the link between excess weight and cancer, people who are overweight or obese are encouraged to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Doing so has the potential to reduce both cancer- and non-cancer-related morbidity.
Measure
The percentage of adults aged 20 years and older who are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. These weight groups are defined by a measurement called body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. For most adults, experts consider a BMI within the range of 18.5 to 24.9 to be healthy, a BMI between 25 and 29.9 to be overweight, and a BMI of 30 and over to be obese.
Healthy People 2030 Target
- Reduce the proportion of adults with obesity to 36.0 percent.
Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1971–2018.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
Body Weight Comparison
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Healthy Weight
|
24.9 | 22.4 - 27.3 |
Overweight
|
31.2 | 29.1 - 33.3 | |
|
Obese
|
42.4 | 39.0 - 45.8 | |
Healthy Weight
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
24.9 | 22.4 - 27.3 |
Male
|
21.3 | 18.0 - 24.6 | |
Female
|
28.4 | 25.4 - 31.4 | |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
24.9 | 22.4 - 27.3 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
27.0 | 23.4 - 30.5 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
22.2 | 19.6 - 24.8 | |
Hispanic
|
16.1 | 14.0 - 18.1 | |
By Poverty Income Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
< 200% of the federal poverty level
|
24.1 | 20.9 - 27.4 |
>= 200% of the federal poverty level
|
24.5 | 21.4 - 27.5 | |
By Education Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Less than High School
|
22.5 | 19.3 - 25.6 |
High School
|
20.1 | 17.4 - 22.7 | |
Greater than High School
|
24.9 | 22.1 - 27.8 | |
Overweight
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
31.2 | 29.1 - 33.3 |
Male
|
34.6 | 31.0 - 38.2 | |
Female
|
28.0 | 26.2 - 29.8 | |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
31.2 | 29.1 - 33.3 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
29.0 | 25.8 - 32.3 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
26.8 | 23.8 - 29.9 | |
By Poverty Income Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
< 200% of the federal poverty level
|
29.2 | 26.5 - 32.0 |
>= 200% of the federal poverty level
|
32.4 | 29.4 - 35.4 | |
By Education Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Less than High School
|
33.8 | 28.8 - 38.9 |
High School
|
29.3 | 26.3 - 32.4 | |
Greater than High School
|
32.7 | 29.8 - 35.7 | |
Obese
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
42.4 | 39.0 - 45.8 |
Male
|
42.9 | 37.8 - 48.1 | |
Female
|
41.9 | 38.1 - 45.6 | |
By Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
42.4 | 39.0 - 45.8 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
42.3 | 37.5 - 47.0 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
49.4 | 46.0 - 52.7 | |
Males by Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
42.9 | 37.8 - 48.1 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
44.6 | 37.6 - 51.6 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
40.7 | 36.1 - 45.4 | |
Females by Race/Ethnicity
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
All Races
|
41.9 | 38.1 - 45.6 |
Non-Hispanic White
|
39.9 | 34.5 - 45.4 | |
Non-Hispanic Black
|
56.5 | 52.4 - 60.5 | |
By Poverty Income Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
< 200% of the federal poverty level
|
44.3 | 40.4 - 48.2 |
>= 200% of the federal poverty level
|
42.1 | 38.0 - 46.2 | |
By Education Level
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2017 to 2018) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of adults | 95% Confidence Interval | ||
|
Less than High School
|
42.8 | 37.8 - 47.8 |
High School
|
48.7 | 44.6 - 52.9 | |
Greater than High School
|
41.6 | 37.6 - 45.6 | |
Additional Information on Weight
- Obesity and Cancer Risk. National Cancer Institute.
- Body Weight and Cancer Risk. American Cancer Society.
- Cancer and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Take Control of Your Weight. American Cancer Society.
- Cancer Prevention and Control: Healthy Choices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Chartbook on Healthy Living. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention. American Cancer Society.
- Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Overweight and Obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Body Mass Index Table. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Obesity Evidence-Based Programs Listing. National Cancer Institute.
- Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Screening (June 2017). U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- Weight Loss to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Adults: Behavioral Interventions . U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
- Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. NCHS Data Brief, no 360. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020
- Body Fatness and Cancer — Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, Grosse Y, Bianchini F, and Straif K for the International Agency for Research on Cancer Handbook Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016; 375:794-798.
- American Cancer Society guideline for diet and physical activity for cancer prevention. Rock, C.L., Thomson, C., Gansler, T., et al. CA A Cancer J Clin, 70: 245-271. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21591.
- Obesity and cancer risk: Emerging biological mechanisms and perspectives. Metabolism. 2019; 92:121-135.
- Nutrition and physical activity cancer prevention guidelines, cancer risk, and mortality in the women’s health initiative. Thomson CA, McCullough ML, Wertheim BC, et al. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2014;1:42–53.
- 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report. Part F. Chapter 5. Cardiometabolic Health and Prevention of Weight Gaine. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. F5-4 – F5-12.
- Diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: a global perspective. World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
- Body fatness and weight gain. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research.
- Energy balance and body fatness. World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research.
- Advancing Measurement for Childhood Obesity Workshop Series. National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research.
- Obesity and Overweight. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Overweight and Obesity: Data and Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Year Range
1971-2018
Recent Summary Trend Year Range
2013-2018
Summary Tables
Weight and Physical Activity
Recent Summary Trend
Rising
Desired Direction
Falling