if only you GAF About Kids

Posted on: September 2, 2025 at 08:30:53 CT

Childhood obesity in the U.S. significantly increased from the 1970s to the mid-2000s, rising from about 5% in the 1970s to over 17% by the early 2000s, before its growth slowed considerably after 2003, reaching roughly 18-20% by the late 2010s. While the overall trend saw rapid growth from 1978 to 2003, the rate of increase slowed to about one percentage point per decade thereafter.
Here's a breakdown of U.S. childhood obesity rates by decade:
1970s:
The rate was approximately 5%.
1980s & 1990s:
Obesity rates nearly tripled during these decades, growing from 5% to around 15%.
2000s:
Rates continued to increase sharply through the early 2000s, reaching 17% to 18% by the end of the decade, according to the EPA and CDC.
2010s:
The growth rate slowed, though obesity remained high. By the late 2010s, rates in children and adolescents were around 18-21%, with the EPA reporting 18.0% by 2015-2016 and Statista showing 19.3% to 20.9% between 2015 and 2018.
Key Trends
Rapid Growth: The most significant increase in childhood obesity occurred between the 1970s and mid-2000s.
Slowing Growth: The rate of increase began to slow down considerably after 2003.
Sustained High Levels: Despite the slowdown in growth, childhood obesity rates remained high throughout the 2010s