Table 1. Age-adjusted* prevalence of overweight and obesity among U.S. adults among U.S. adults, age 20 years and over

 

NHANES III
(1988-94)
(n=16,679)

NHANES
(
1999-2000)
(n=8,505)

NHANES
(2001-02) (n=4,413)

NHANES
(2003-04) (n=4,431)

Overweight or obese (BMI greater than or equal to 25.0)

56.0

64.5

65.7 66.3

Obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30.0)

22.9

30.5

30.6 32.2

*Age-adjusted by the direct method to the year 2000 U.S. Bureau of the Census estimates using the age groups 20-39, 40-59, and 60 years and over.