According to multiple sources, the percentage of obesity in America is around 42% . This means that almost half of the adult population in the United States is considered obese. The prevalence of obesity has been increasing over the years, with rates more than doubling since the 1970s. Obesity rates vary by demographic, with non-Hispanic Black adults having the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity at 49.9%, followed by Hispanic adults at 45.6%, non-Hispanic White adults at 41.4%, and non-Hispanic Asian adults at 16.1% . The prevalence of obesity is also higher among women than men, and tends to increase with age. Severe obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, affects around 8% of the adult population in the United States.