Staggering new data reveals that over 70% of American adults are now considered overweight, a crisis fueled by our plates holding nearly 300 extra calories daily while our vegetable intake languishes at a fraction of what's recommended.
Key Takeaways
- In 2017-2018, the prevalence of obesity was 42.4% among U.S. adults aged 20 years and over
- Severe obesity affected 9.2% of U.S. adults in 2017-2018, up from 4.7% in 1999-2000
- Obesity prevalence among non-Hispanic Black adults was 49.6% in 2017-2018, the highest among racial/ethnic groups
- Average daily caloric intake for U.S. adults was 2,157 kcal in NHANES 2015-2016
- Men consumed 2,475 kcal/day on average in 2015-2018 NHANES
- Women averaged 1,877 kcal/day in 2015-2018 NHANES data
- Added sugars provided 17% of total calories for U.S. population in 2009-2010
- Average intake of added sugars was 17 teaspoons (71.4g) per day for adults
- Children aged 2-18 consumed 15% of calories from added sugars in NHANES 2009-2012
- Saturated fat provided 11% of total calories in 2015-2016 NHANES
- Average saturated fat intake was 30.2g/day for men
- U.S. adults consumed 11.2% calories from saturated fat, above 10% limit
- Adults consumed 1.0 cup equivalents of vegetables daily vs. 2.5 recommended in 2015-16
- Only 12.4% of U.S. adults met fruit intake recommendations in 2019
- Average vegetable intake 1.6 cups/day, 90% below 2-3 cups recommended
America's obesity crisis stems from widespread overeating and poor nutritional habits.
Added Sugars
1Added sugars provided 17% of total calories for U.S. population in 2009-2010
Verified2Average intake of added sugars was 17 teaspoons (71.4g) per day for adults
Verified3Children aged 2-18 consumed 15% of calories from added sugars in NHANES 2009-2012
Verified4Soda and energy drinks contributed 36% of added sugar intake
Directional5Per capita added sugar consumption peaked at 102g/day in 1999
Single source6Americans consumed 152 pounds of caloric sweeteners per capita annually in 2016
Verified7Added sugars from desserts and sweets were 39g/day average
Verified8NHANES 2015-2016 showed 13% calories from added sugars, down from 17%
Verified9Boys aged 12-19 consumed 173g added sugars weekly
Directional10Table sugar intake averaged 22.2 pounds per person yearly in 2018
Single source11High-fructose corn syrup consumption fell to 35 pounds per capita by 2020
Verified12Beverages provided 47% of added sugars for youth under 19
Verified13Average American ate 57 pounds of added sugars in 2018
Verified14Candy consumption averaged 24 pounds per capita in 2019
Directional15Sugary drinks accounted for 6% of total calories but 21% added sugars
Single source16Added sugar intake exceeded WHO limit of 10% calories for 71% of population
Verified17Per capita corn sweeteners were 42 lbs in 2000, down to 24 lbs by 2021
Verified18Desserts contributed 25% of added sugars in diets
Verified19Youth consumed 16.5% calories from sugars, over AHA 10% limit
Directional20Average daily added sugar for men was 77g, women 65g in 2015-16
Single source21SSBs intake was 145 kcal/day average
Verified22Added sugars from grains/sweets/baking were 35% of total
Verified23Per capita sugar use 152.9 lbs in 1999 peak
Verified24Children 2-5 had 12% calories from added sugars
Directional25Sports drinks added 2.4 tsp sugar daily for consumers
Single source26Total caloric sweetener disappearance 130 lbs/person in 2022
VerifiedAdded Sugars Interpretation
We're basically mainlining sweetness, with over two-thirds of us exceeding healthy limits, as our collective sweet tooth has us drowning in everything from soda streams to hidden dessert calories.
Caloric Intake
1Average daily caloric intake for U.S. adults was 2,157 kcal in NHANES 2015-2016
Verified2Men consumed 2,475 kcal/day on average in 2015-2018 NHANES
Verified3Women averaged 1,877 kcal/day in 2015-2018 NHANES data
Verified4Total energy intake increased 24% from 1971 to 2000, reaching 2,124 kcal/day for women
Directional5U.S. adults exceeded recommendations by 200-300 kcal/day, contributing to weight gain
Single source6Average intake was 2,481 kcal/day for men aged 20-39 in 2013-2016
Verified7Children aged 2-19 consumed 1,976-2,488 kcal/day by age group in 2015-2016
Verified8Caloric intake from beverages was 22% of total energy for adults
Verified9Daily energy intake rose from 1,996 kcal in 1971 to 2,266 kcal in 2008 for men
Directional10Post-WWII, per capita calories increased 20% to over 3,900 kcal/day available
Single source11NHANES 2003-2004 showed 2,139 kcal/day average, up from prior decades
Verified12Fast food contributed 36.6% of daily calories on consumption days
Verified13Average American consumes 3,600 kcal/day available supply in 2019
Verified14Intake for pregnant women averaged 2,361 kcal/day in NHANES
Directional15Elderly men over 60 averaged 2,091 kcal/day in 2015-2016
Single source16Caloric density of U.S. diet increased to 1.49 kcal/g from 1971-2008
Verified17Youth aged 9-18 consumed up to 2,600 kcal/day, exceeding needs
Verified18Restaurant food provided 34% of calories in 2006
Verified19Per capita caloric availability was 3,682 kcal/day in 2016 USDA data
Directional20Added calories from sugars increased intake by 152 kcal/day since 1980s
Single source21Men in lowest income quartile consumed 2,330 kcal/day vs. 2,530 highest
Verified22Snacking contributed 24% of daily calories in 2010, up from 18% in 1977
Verified23Average daily intake for Black adults was 2,192 kcal in NHANES 2011-2016
Verified24Hispanic adults averaged 2,150 kcal/day
Directional25Post-2008 recession, caloric intake stabilized at ~2,150 kcal/day for adults
Single sourceCaloric Intake Interpretation
While America's pantry has swelled to over 3,900 available calories per person daily, our actual dinner plates hold a more modest—yet still excessive—2,157 calories, revealing a nation where abundance fuels overconsumption in a quiet, steady creep.
Fruits Vegetables
1Adults consumed 1.0 cup equivalents of vegetables daily vs. 2.5 recommended in 2015-16
Verified2Only 12.4% of U.S. adults met fruit intake recommendations in 2019
Verified3Average vegetable intake 1.6 cups/day, 90% below 2-3 cups recommended
Verified4Fruit intake averaged 1.1 cups/day vs. 1.5-2.0 recommended
Directional5Potatoes comprised 50% of vegetable intake, mostly fried
Single source6Dark green vegetable intake 0.17 cups/day vs. 1.5-2.2 weekly recommended
Verified7Whole grains only 0.92 oz eq/day vs. 3 recommended
Verified890% of Americans eat insufficient fruits/veggies
Verified9Women consumed 1.64 cups veggies/day, men 1.37
Directional10Tomato-based veggies 32% of total vegetable intake
Single source11Only 8.9% met veggie guidelines
Verified12Apple the most consumed fruit at 0.28 cups/day
Verified13Orange intake 0.15 cups/day
Verified14Red/orange veggies 0.45 cups/day vs. 4-5.5 weekly cups
Directional15Beans/peas 0.08 cups/day
Single source16Fruit juice 0.36 cups/day but counts half toward goals
Verified17Starchy veggies 0.56 cups/day, mostly potatoes
Verified18Berries 0.09 cups/day
Verified19Other veggies 0.43 cups/day
Directional20Banana intake 0.25 cups/day
Single source21Low-income adults had lower fruit/veggie intake
Verified221 in 10 adults ate no fruits day prior in NHANES
Verified23Veggie intake increased slightly to 1.7 cups/day 2001-2010
VerifiedFruits Vegetables Interpretation
Our national diet appears to be a tragic culinary play where the leading role of "vegetable" is forever typecast by a fried potato understudy, while the fruit ensemble is a one-apple show playing to a half-empty house.
Obesity Prevalence
1In 2017-2018, the prevalence of obesity was 42.4% among U.S. adults aged 20 years and over
Verified2Severe obesity affected 9.2% of U.S. adults in 2017-2018, up from 4.7% in 1999-2000
Verified3Obesity prevalence among non-Hispanic Black adults was 49.6% in 2017-2018, the highest among racial/ethnic groups
Verified4Among U.S. youth aged 2-19 years, obesity prevalence was 19.3% in 2017-2018
Directional5Overweight prevalence (including obesity) was 71.6% among U.S. adults in 2017-2018
Single source6Obesity rates in U.S. adults aged 40-59 years reached 44.3% in 2017-2018
Verified7In 2020, adult obesity prevalence exceeded 40% in 12 states
Verified8Mississippi had the highest adult obesity rate at 39.5% in 2020
Verified9Colorado had the lowest adult obesity rate at 25.1% in 2020
Directional10Obesity among U.S. women was 41.9% in 2017-2018, compared to 43.0% for men
Single source11Childhood obesity tripled from 5.5% in 1980 to 18.5% in 2016 among youth aged 2-19
Verified12Severe obesity in adolescents aged 12-19 was 6.1% in 2017-2018
Verified13Obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% in 1999-2000 to 41.9% in 2017-2018 among women
Verified14In 2021-2023 BRFSS data, 37 states had adult obesity rates over 35%
Directional15West Virginia's adult obesity rate was 41.0% in 2023
Single source16District of Columbia had the lowest at 27.9% in 2023
Verified17Obesity among low-income adults was 36.3% vs. 31.3% high-income in 2017-2018
Verified18Mexican American adults had 45.6% obesity prevalence in 2017-2018
Verified1913.9% of U.S. children aged 2-5 years were obese in 2017-2018
Directional20Obesity in high school students was 14.8% in 2021 YRBS data
Single source21Adult obesity rose to 42% nationally by 2020
Verified22During COVID-19, obesity increased by 2.7 percentage points among adults 18-24
Verified2378.7 million U.S. adults were obese in 2014 estimates
Verified24Obesity-related medical costs reached $173 billion annually in 2019
Directional2514 states had obesity rates over 35% in 2018
Single source26Arkansas adult obesity was 35.7% in 2018
Verified27Obesity in U.S. men aged 20-39 was 40.0% in 2017-2018
Verified28Among adults with college degrees, obesity was 31.2% vs. 40.5% no high school diploma
Verified29Youth obesity in rural areas was 20.6% vs. 15.5% urban in recent data
Directional304.4 million U.S. adolescents were severely obese in 2016
Single sourceObesity Prevalence Interpretation
These statistics reveal a nation where the average dinner plate has grown faster than our collective willpower, making "overweight" the new normal and turning a health crisis into a morbidly obese national identity.
Saturated Fats
1Saturated fat provided 11% of total calories in 2015-2016 NHANES
Verified2Average saturated fat intake was 30.2g/day for men
Verified3U.S. adults consumed 11.2% calories from saturated fat, above 10% limit
Verified4Cheese was top source of saturated fat at 15.3% of intake
Directional5Saturated fat from meat/poultry/fish was 29.2% of total
Single source6Per capita saturated fat availability 75g/day in 2010
Verified7NHANES 2009-2010: 11.3% calories from sat fat
Verified8Butter and animal fats contributed 9.4% sat fat
Verified9Decline in sat fat from 13% in 1970s to 11% now
Directional10Pizza provided 8.3% of saturated fat intake
Single source11Elderly consumed 25.8g sat fat/day
Verified12Children 2-19 averaged 28g sat fat/day
Verified13Grain products contributed 17.6% sat fat despite low fat content
Verified14Sat fat intake 76g/person/day available in 2000
Directional1576% of adults exceeded 10% calorie sat fat limit
Single source16Red meat source of 24% sat fat
Verified17Milk and milk products 15.5% sat fat
Verified18Cookies/brownies 6.1% sat fat intake
Verified19Sat fat from snacks 11.3%
Directional20Per capita disappearance 64 lbs sat fat/year
Single source21Burgers provided 4.7% sat fat
Verified22Women averaged 21.6g sat fat/day
Verified23Decline 18% in sat fat consumption 1970-2014
Verified24Dairy desserts 3.9% sat fat source
Directional25Only 5% met sat fat guidelines under 7% calories
Single source26Chicken/nuggets 4.2% sat fat
Verified27Total fat 33.5% calories, sat 11% in 2011-12
Verified28Only 12% of adults meet sat fat <10% calories
VerifiedSaturated Fats Interpretation
The data suggests we are collectively wedded to a love of cheese and burgers with a stubbornness that defies both our arteries and dietary guidelines, as evidenced by the fact that only 12% of adults manage to keep their saturated fat intake under the recommended limit.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2ARSars.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 3NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 4AJCNajcn.nutrition.orgVisit source
- Reference 5ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 6FNSfns.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 7JANDONLINEjandonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 8WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 9STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 10NCA-CANDYnca-candy.orgVisit source
- Reference 11BMJbmj.comVisit source
- Reference 12AHAJOURNALSahajournals.orgVisit source