Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2011–2014 National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, November 2015

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported that from 1999 through 2014, obesity prevalence increased among adults and youth. However, among youth, prevalence did not change from 2003–2004 through 2013–2014 and no change in obesity prevalence among youth was noted between 2011–2012 and 2013–2014.

We are excited to see that our nationwide efforts to prevent childhood obesity have stopped the decades-long increase in childhood obesity rates, but we cannot be satisfied or accept these rates. Childhood obesity rates are still too high and the rates that we currently have will lead to many millions of cases of obesity-related diseases and astronomical health care costs.

While we celebrate the progress that has been made to stop the growth of the childhood obesity epidemic, it is imperative that we double down on our efforts to go beyond flattening the rates so that we actually start decreasing childhood obesity rates.

Howell Wechsler, EdD, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Alliance for a Healthier Generation