Prepregnancy Obesity

During the past 2 decades, obesity (body mass index of 30.0 and above) has increased in the United States.35, 36 From 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States was 41.9%.37 Maternal obesity has been linked to adverse health outcomes for both the mother and the infant. Adverse health outcomes for the mother include gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes later in life.38 Adverse health outcomes for the infant include preterm birth, infant mortality, and the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes later in life.38, 39 Maternal obesity varies by demographic factors, such as race and Hispanic origin, and maternal age.

Figure 21: Percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity by race and Hispanic origin, 2016–2022
Percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity by race and Hispanic origin, 2016–2022

NOTE: NHOPI = Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; NH = non-Hispanic origin; AIAN = American Indian or Alaska Native. Mother's weight immediately before pregnancy was reported by the mother via the question, "What was your prepregnancy weight, that is, your weight immediately before you became pregnant with this child?" Mother's height also was reported by the mother via the question, "What is your height?" The height and weight measurements are used to calculate the mother's body mass index (BMI)—a measure of body fat—as kg/m2 (703 x lbs/in2). A BMI of 30.0 and over before pregnancy is considered as obese. The 1997 U.S. Office of Management and Budget standards were used to classify people into one of the following five race groups: White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. All categories are single race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected and reported separately. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Natality.

  • The percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity increased from 26% in 2016 to 32% in 2022.
  • From 2016 to 2022, the percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity increased for American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic; Asian, non-Hispanic; White, non-Hispanic; and Hispanic women.
  • For Black, non-Hispanic women, the percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity increased from 36% in 2016 to 40% in 2020 and then remained stable through 2022.
  • For Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic women, the percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity did not change significantly from 2016 to 2022.
  • Throughout the period, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic women were the most likely to have prepregnancy obesity, whereas Asian, non-Hispanic women were the least likely to have prepregnancy obesity.
  • In 2022, prepregnancy obesity was highest in Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic women (51%), followed by American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic (44%), Black, non-Hispanic (42%), Hispanic (35%), White, non-Hispanic (29%), and Asian, non-Hispanic (13%) women.

Figure 22: Percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity by age, 2016–2022
Percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity by age, 2016–2022

NOTE: Mother's weight immediately before pregnancy was reported by the mother via the question, "What was your prepregnancy weight, that is, your weight immediately before you became pregnant with this child?" Mother's height also was reported by the mother via the question, "What is your height?" The height and weight measurements are used to calculate the mother's body mass index (BMI)—a measure of body fat—as kg/m2 (703 x lbs/in2). A BMI of 30.0 and above before pregnancy is considered obese.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Natality.

  • From 2016 to 2022, the percentage of women with prepregnancy obesity increased for those ages 25–19, 30–34, and 35–39.
  • Among women 20–24 and 40 and over, the percentage of those with prepregnancy obesity increased from 2016 to 2020 and then remained stable through 2022.
  • Among adolescents ages 15–19, the percentage with prepregnancy obesity increased from 2016 to 2019 and then remained stable.
  • In 2022, prepregnancy obesity was highest in women ages 25–29 (34%), followed by women ages 40 and older (32%), 20–24 (31%), and 30–34 and 35–39 (31% each). Adolescents ages 15–19 were the least likely to have prepregnancy obesity (20%).

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35 Hales, C. M., Fryar, C. D., Carroll, M. D., Freedman, D. S., & Ogden, C. L. (2018). Trends in Obesity and Severe Obesity Prevalence in US Youth and Adults by Sex and Age, 2007–2008 to 2015–2016. JAMA, 319(16), 1723–1725. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.3060.

36 Hales, C. M., Carroll, M. D., Fryar, C. D., & Ogden, C. L. (2020). Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity among adults: United States, 2017–2018. NCHS Data Brief, 360. National Center for Health Statistics. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm.

37 Stierman, B., Afful, J., Carroll, M. D., Chen, T.C., Davy, O., Fink, S., Fryar, C. D., Gu, Q., Hales, C. M., Hughes, J. P., Ostchega, Y., Storandt, R. J., & Akinbami, L. J. (2021). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 prepandemic data files—Development of files and prevalence estimates for selected health outcomes. National Health Statistics Reports, 158. National Center for Health Statistics. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:106273.

38 Leddy, M. A., Power, M. L., & Schulkin, J. (2008). The impact of maternal obesity on maternal and fetal health. Reviews in obstetrics & gynecology, 1(4), 170–178. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2621047/.

39 Meehan, S., Beck, C. R., Mair-Jenkins, J., Leonardi-Bee, J., & Puleston, R. (2014). Maternal obesity and infant mortality: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 133(5), 863–871. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1480

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