How many people in America are obese?

Approximately 66.3% of American adults are either overweight (defined as having a body mass index [BMI] between 25 and 29.9) or obese (defined as having a BMI of 30 or more), according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. The survey found that 32% of Americans are obese, the figure also reported by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 1994 and 2004, the percentage of Americans who met the criteria for being overweight rose from 56 to 66%, and the percentage who met the criteria for obesity rose from 23 to 32%. Despite greater awareness of the causes and the consequences of obesity, rates in America are increasing every year.