Overweight and obesity

The National Center for Health Statistics provides the “gold standard” for the study of overweight and obesity through the data produced by its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Unlike some surveys which are conducted by telephone and rely upon self-reported height/weight information, the NHANES provides height and weight data acquired in a clinical setting.

While the telephone survey data are compiled at state and metropolitan statistical area level of detail the NHANES data are only available as national level data.

Links to NCHS overweight and obesity data from 1960 through the most recent are located here on the NCHS website.

We have recently produced data covering children 0-2 years of age and 2-5 years of age.