Adult obesity rate

The adult obesity rate in the United States is estimated to reach 34.2% by 2025, up from 33.8% in 2024. Unhealthy eating habits and limited physical activity remain primary contributors to this trend. The high availability and marketing of processed, high-calorie foods have driven excessive caloric intake among adults. Meanwhile, a lack of strong regulation surrounding unhealthy food products allows these offerings to dominate the food landscape. Persisting food deserts, disproportionately affecting low-income communities, also limit access to healthier options, compounding the problem. These overlapping factors have sustained an elevated obesity rate this year.

Experiencing a 2.3 percentage point increase, the adult obesity rate rose from 33.0% in 2021 to 34.2% in 2025. Much of this rise can be traced directly to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2020 and 2021. Mandated stay-at-home orders and remote work adoption led to reductions in physical activity, as routines involving commuting and outdoor movement were replaced with sedentary behaviors. The initial pandemic year witnessed a 1.6% jump in obesity rates, marking significant acceleration. High levels of food marketing focused on processed foods and larger portion sizes also characterized the period. Even as public health restrictions lifted in 2021 and 2022, many pandemic-induced behavioral patterns persisted, sustaining consistently high rates. Although obesity rate growth stagnated somewhat in 2022 as people resumed outdoor activities post-vaccine rollouts, the effect was limited, and rates remained elevated. From 2023 to 2025, readily available processed foods and insufficient government regulation continued to reinforce rising rates. Access to affordable, appealing, high-calorie foods maintained upward pressure on the statistic.

Macro trends like rising food insecurity, persistent income inequality, and cultural dietary patterns have played an important role over the past five years. Food insecurity, driven by economic disruptions during and after the pandemic, often leads to reliance on lower-cost, energy-dense foods that contribute to weight gain. Simultaneously, the popularity of fast food and junk food, competitively priced with healthier options, has shaped consumption habits across demographics. Structural economic issues, market dynamics, and individual behaviors have resulted in the adult obesity rate reaching a new high by 2025.