height and weight in history

Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index,United States 1960–2002

by Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D.; Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H.; Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H.; and Katherine M. Flegal, Ph.D.,

Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Abstract

This report presents trends in national estimates of mean weight, height, and

body mass index (BMI) from the National Health Examination and the National

Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 1960 and 2002. The tables

included in this report present data for adults by sex, race/ethnicity, and age group

and for children by sex and year of age. Mean weight and BMI have increased for

both sexes, all race/ethnic groups, and all ages. Among adults, mean weight

increased more than 24 pounds. Although not as dramatically, mean height has also

increased for most ages and for both males and females.

Keywords: body weight c height c National Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey (NHANES)

Introduction

During the last 2 decades the

prevalence of obesity and overweight

has increased in the United States (1–3).

This is in part due to a shift in the

distribution of BMI (BMI, weight in

kilograms divided by height in meters

squared) of the entire population (4).

This report presents the changes in

mean body weight, height, and BMI for

the entire U.S. population from 1960 to

2002.

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey (NHANES)

program of the National Center for

Health Statistics, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, includes a series

of cross-sectional nationally

representative health examination

surveys beginning in 1960. In each

survey a nationally representative

sample of the U.S. civilian

noninstitutionalized population was

selected using a complex, stratified,

multistage probability cluster sampling

design. A home interview was followed

by a physical examination in a mobile

examination center.

Beginning in 1999, NHANES

became a continuous survey. The

procedures followed to select the sample

and conduct the interview and

examination were similar to those for

previous surveys. Public-use data from

the continuous NHANES are released in

2-year groupings; however, the most

stable and reliable estimates are

obtained from more than 2 years of

data. Previous national surveys include

the first, second, and third National

Health Examination Surveys (NHES I,

1960–62; NHES II, 1963–65; NHES III,

1966–70) and the first, second, and third

National Health and Nutrition

Examination Surveys (NHANES I,

1971–74; NHANES II, 1976–80;

NHANES III, 1988–94). A special study

of Hispanic populations (the Hispanic

Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey (HHANES)) in three regions of

the United States was conducted from

1982 to 1984. The Mexican-American

subpopulation sampled in HHANES was

located entirely in the southwestern

United States (5).

Population means and standard

errors of the mean are weighted to

produce national estimates. The sample

weights adjust for oversampling of

certain populations, noncoverage, and

nonresponse. Standard errors were

estimated using SUDAAN by Taylor

Series Linearization (6). A relative

standard error (RSE) greater than

30 percent has been recommended to

Number 347 + October 27, 2004

U.S. DEPA RTM EN T O F HEA LTH A N D H UM A N SERV IC ES

C e nters for Dise a se C ontrol an d Pre ve ntion

Na tiona l C e nter for Hea lth Statistic s

define estimates that are not reliable. In

these tables, all of the RSEs met this

reliability criterion. Pregnant females

were excluded from all the analyses.

Statistical tests on trends were

modeled using PROC REGRESS. All

models included interaction terms for

age and survey because mean age within

an age group (e.g., 20–29 years) may

have varied by survey. Significance was

determined using the WALD F test (7).

Tests for trends on the total groups of

adults (20–74 years of age) were done

on age-adjusted values; consequently, no

interaction terms were included. When

only two surveys were available (i.e., 20

years and over, etc.), differences were

evaluated using t-tests. Significance was

determined at the 0.05 level.

Results

Tables 1 and 2 show the mean

weights for children over time in

English and Metric units. Among

6–11-year-old children, mean weight

increased from approximately 65 pounds

in 1963–5 to almost 74 pounds in

1999–2002. This represents almost a 9-

pound increase for both boys and girls

6–11 years of age. Among 12–17-year-

old teens, the mean weight of boys

increased more than 15 pounds from

125 to 141 pounds and the mean weight

of girls increased approximately 12

pounds from 118 to 130 pounds between

the 1960s and 2002. Mean heights for

children are found in tables 3 and 4.

Mean heights also increased between the

1960s and 2002 with the mean height of

boys 6–11 years of age increasing 0.8

inches and the mean height of girls 6–11

years of age increasing 0.6 inches.

Among 12–17-year-old teens, the mean

height of boys increased 0.7 inches

while that of girls increased 0.3 inches,

although these findings were not

statistically significant. Mean BMIs for

children are found in table 5. Among

both boys and girls 12–17 years of age

mean BMI increased by more than 4

units between 1963–5 and 1999–2002.

Changes in adult weight and height

are shown in tables 6–9 in both English

and Metric units. On average, both men

and women gained more than 24 pounds

between the early 1960s and 2002.

During the same time period, mean

height increased approximately 1 inch.

In 1999–2002 mean weight of men 20

years and over was almost 190 pounds

while among women the mean weight

was approximately 163 pounds. Mean

height for men in 1999–2002 was

approximately 69 inches and for women

was approximately 64 inches. Changes

in mean BMI (table 10) have also

occurred. Between the early 1960s and

1999–2002 mean BMI for men 20–74

years of age increased from just over 25

to almost 28. Similarly, for women

mean BMI increased from almost 25 to

just over 28.

Changes in average weight by

race/ethnicity are shown in tables 11 and

12. Between NHANES III and

NHANES 1999–2002 mean weight of

non-Hispanic white adults increased

approximately 10 pounds. Among

non-Hispanic black or African American

men the increase was approximately 8

pounds, but among black or African

American men 60 years and over the

increase was over 13 pounds. The

average weight of non-Hispanic black or

African American women increased

approximately 13 pounds with the

largest increase in the 20–39 year age

group (more than 16 pounds). Among

Mexican Americans the increase was

4–5 pounds. However, the increase in

average weight among Mexican

American men 60–74 years of age

between HHANES in the early 1980s

and NHANES 1999–2002 was over 19

pounds. Between NHANES III and

NHANES 1999–2002 average height

increased less than one-half an inch for

non-Hispanic white persons, non-

Hispanic black or African American

persons, and Mexican American persons

(tables 13 and 14). Table 15 shows mean

BMIs by race/ethnicity. Among

non-Hispanic white persons, non-

Hispanic black or African American, and

Mexican Americans mean BMI has

increased. Among Mexican Americans

20–74 years of age mean BMI increased

approximately 2 units for both men and

women between 1982–4 and 1999–

2002. Non-Hispanic black or African

American women 20 years and over

have seen a similar increase between

1988–94 and 1999–2002.

Conclusions

Average weight has increased

dramatically in the last 40 years with

the greatest increases seen in adults.

Mean BMI has also increased. Although

height has also increased this increase

has been much more modest.

References1. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL,

Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends

in obesity among U.S. adults,

1999–2000. JAMA 288:1723–7.

2002.

2. Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD,

Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends

in overweight among U.S. children

and adolescents, 1999–2000. JAMA

288:1728–32. 2002.

3. Hedley AA, Ogden CL, Johnson CL,

Carroll, MD, Curtin LR, Flegal KM.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity

among U.S. children, adolescents,

and adults, 1999–2002. JAMA

291:2847–50. 2004.

4. Flegal KM, Troiano RP. Changes in

the distribution of body mass index

of adults and children in the U.S.

population. Int J Obes Relat Metab

Disord 24(7):807–18. 2000.

5. More information on the NHANES

survey design and data collection

methods, as well as public-use

microdata files, can be found at the

NHANES Web site: http://

www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

6. Wolter KM. Introduction to variance

estimation, New York: Springer-

Verlag. 1990.

7. Skinner CJ, Holt D, Smith TMF.

Analysis of complex surveys,

Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

1989.

2 Advance Data No. 347 + October 27, 2004

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm








Table 6. Mean weight (pounds) by survey, sex, and age group; adults: United States

Sex and age

NHES I, 1960–62 NHANES I, 1971–74 NHANES II, 1976–80 NHANES III, 1988–94 NHANES 1999–2002

Samplesize Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the mean

Male1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,755 181.3 0.8 4,314 189.8

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,895 166.3 0.7 4,992 173.4 0.6 5,604 173.8 0.4 6,860 182.4 0.8 3,791 191.0

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 163.9 1.6 986 169.6 1.3 1,261 167.9 1.0 1,638 172.5 1.4 712 183.4

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 169.9 1.4 654 178.1 1.7 871 175.5 0.9 1,468 182.3 2.0 704 189.1

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 649 169.1 1.4 715 177.6 1.2 695 179.7 1.0 1,220 187.3 1.7 776 196.0

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 167.7 1.3 717 173.2 1.1 691 176.0 1.3 851 189.2 1.2 598 195.4

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 158.9 1.5 1,920 165.4 1.0 2,086 167.5 1.0 1,683 180.8 1.1 1,001 191.5

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 895 166.0 1.5 523 172.7

Female1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,483 153.0 0.9 4,299 162.9

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,231 140.2 0.5 7,919 144.2 0.6 6,161 145.4 0.6 7,461 154.1 0.9 3,745 164.3

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 127.7 0.9 2,122 133.9 0.8 1,290 135.7 1.0 1,663 141.7 1.4 656 156.5

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 138.8 1.2 1,654 144.4 1.1 964 145.5 1.4 1,773 154.4 1.8 699 163.0

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 142.8 1.1 1,232 148.7 1.3 765 148.8 1.4 1,355 157.5 1.8 787 168.2

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 146.5 1.3 780 148.2 1.4 793 150.4 1.3 996 163.4 1.8 593 169.2

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 147.3 1.2 2,131 146.3 1.0 2,349 146.9 0.8 1,674 154.2 1.0 1,010 164.7

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,022 139.4 1.3 554 146.6

- - - Data not available.1Statistically significant trend or difference p<0.05 for all years available.

NOTE: NHES I: National Health Examination Survey, Cycle I, ages 20–74 years; and NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Table 7. Mean weight (kilograms) by survey, sex, and age group; adults: United States

Sex and age


Samplesize Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the mean

Male1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,755 82.3 0.3 4,314 86.1

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,895 75.6 0.3 4,992 78.8 0.3 5,604 79.0 0.2 6,860 82.9 0.4 3,791 86.8

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 74.5 0.7 986 77.1 0.6 1,261 76.3 0.5 1,638 78.4 0.6 712 83.4

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 77.2 0.6 654 81.0 0.8 871 79.8 0.4 1,468 82.9 0.9 704 86.0

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 649 76.9 0.6 715 80.7 0.5 695 81.7 0.5 1,220 85.1 0.8 776 89.1

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 76.2 0.6 717 78.7 0.5 691 80.0 0.6 851 86.0 0.5 598 88.8

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 72.2 0.7 1,920 75.2 0.4 2,086 76.1 0.5 1,683 82.2 0.5 1,001 87.1

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 895 75.4 0.7 523 78.5

Female1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,483 69.5 0.4 4,299 74.0

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,231 63.7 0.2 7,919 65.6 0.3 6,161 66.1 0.3 7,461 70.0 0.4 3,745 74.7

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 58.0 0.4 2,122 60.9 0.4 1,290 61.7 0.5 1,663 64.4 0.6 656 71.1

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 63.1 0.5 1,654 65.6 0.5 964 66.1 0.6 1,773 70.2 0.8 699 74.1

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 64.9 0.5 1,232 67.6 0.6 765 67.6 0.6 1,355 71.6 0.8 787 76.5

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 66.6 0.6 780 67.4 0.6 793 68.4 0.6 996 74.3 0.8 593 76.9

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 67.0 0.6 2,131 66.5 0.4 2,349 66.8 0.4 1,674 70.1 0.5 1,010 74.9

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,022 63.4 0.6 554 66.6



Table 8. Mean height (inches) by survey, sex, and age group adults: United States

Sex and age


Samplesize Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the mean

Male

20 years and over1 . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,757 69.0 0.1 4,341 69.2

20–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,895 68.3 0.1 4,992 68.9 0.1 5,604 69.1 0.1 6,862 69.2 0.1 3,836 69.4

20–29 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 68.9 0.1 986 69.7 0.2 1,261 69.7 0.1 1,639 69.3 0.1 724 69.6

30–39 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 68.9 0.1 654 69.3 0.1 871 69.4 0.1 1,468 69.5 0.1 717 69.5

40–49 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 649 68.3 0.1 715 69.1 0.1 695 69.3 0.1 1,220 69.4 0.1 784 69.7

50–59 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 67.8 0.1 717 68.5 0.2 691 68.8 0.1 851 69.2 0.1 601 69.2

60–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 67.0 0.2 1,920 67.6 0.1 2,086 67.8 0.1 1,684 68.3 0.1 1,010 68.6

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 895 67.2 0.1 505 67.4

Female

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,498 63.7 0.1 4,308 63.8

20–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,231 63.1 0.1 7,919 63.6 0.0 6,161 63.7 0.0 7,473 63.9 0.1 3,770 64.0

20–29 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 63.7 0.1 2,122 64.1 0.1 1,290 64.3 0.1 1,665 64.1 0.1 663 64.1

30–39 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 63.7 0.1 1,654 64.1 0.1 964 64.2 0.1 1,776 64.3 0.1 708 64.2

40–49 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 63.2 0.1 1,232 63.9 0.1 765 63.9 0.1 1,354 64.1 0.1 794 64.3

50–59 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 62.6 0.1 780 63.2 0.1 793 63.2 0.1 998 63.7 0.1 601 63.9

60–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 61.8 0.1 2,131 62.4 0.1 2,349 62.5 0.1 1,680 62.9 0.1 1,004 63.0

75 years and over1 . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,025 61.5 0.1 538 62.0



Table 9. Mean height (centimeters) by survey, sex, and age group; adults: United States

Sex and age


Samplesize Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the mean

Male

20 years and over1 . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,757 175.4 0.1 4,341 175.8

20–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,895 173.4 0.2 4,992 175.1 0.2 5,604 175.4 0.2 6,862 175.8 0.1 3,836 176.2

20–29 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 175.0 0.3 986 177.1 0.4 1,261 177.1 0.3 1,639 176.1 0.3 724 176.7

30–39 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 174.9 0.3 654 176.1 0.3 871 176.3 0.3 1,468 176.6 0.3 717 176.4

40–49 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 649 173.4 0.4 715 175.5 0.3 695 175.9 0.3 1,220 176.3 0.3 784 177.2

50–59 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 172.3 0.4 717 174.0 0.4 691 174.7 0.3 851 175.8 0.3 601 175.8

60–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 170.2 0.4 1,920 171.8 0.3 2,086 172.1 0.2 1,684 173.6 0.2 1,010 174.4

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 895 170.7 0.3 505 171.3

Female

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,498 161.8 0.1 4,308 162.0

20–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,231 160.2 0.2 7,919 161.6 0.1 6,161 161.8 0.1 7,473 162.3 0.1 3,770 162.5

20–29 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 161.8 0.3 2,122 162.8 0.1 1,290 163.3 0.2 1,665 162.8 0.2 663 162.8

30–39 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 161.8 0.3 1,654 162.9 0.2 964 163.1 0.2 1,776 163.4 0.3 708 163.0

40–49 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 160.5 0.2 1,232 162.3 0.3 765 162.3 0.3 1,354 162.8 0.3 794 163.4

50–59 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 158.9 0.3 780 160.4 0.2 793 160.5 0.3 998 161.8 0.3 601 162.3

60–74 years1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 157.1 0.3 2,131 158.6 0.2 2,349 158.8 0.2 1,680 159.8 0.2 1,004 160.0

75 years and over1 . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,025 156.2 0.4 538 157.4



Table 10. Mean body mass index (BMI) by survey, sex, and age group; adults: United States

Sex and age


Samplesize Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the meanSample

size Mean

Standarderror of

the mean

Male1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,755 26.7 0.1 4,262 27.8

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,895 25.1 0.1 4,992 25.7 0.1 5,604 25.6 0.1 6,860 26.8 0.1 3,775 27.9

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 585 24.3 0.2 986 24.5 0.1 1,261 24.3 0.1 1,638 25.2 0.2 712 26.6

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 25.2 0.2 654 26.1 0.2 871 25.6 0.1 1,468 26.5 0.2 704 27.5

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 649 25.6 0.2 715 26.2 0.2 695 26.4 0.2 1,220 27.3 0.2 774 28.4

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 25.6 0.2 717 26.0 0.2 691 26.2 0.2 851 27.8 0.2 594 28.7

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 460 24.9 0.2 1,920 25.4 0.1 2,086 25.7 0.1 1,683 27.2 0.2 991 28.6

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 895 25.9 0.2 487 26.8

Female1

20 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,480.0 26.5 0.1 4,243 28.1

20–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,231 24.9 0.1 7,919 25.1 0.1 6,161 25.3 0.1 7,459.0 26.6 0.2 3,719 28.2

20–29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 22.2 0.2 2,122 23.0 0.1 1,290 23.1 0.2 1,663.0 24.3 0.2 654 26.8

30–39 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 749 24.1 0.2 1,654 24.7 0.2 964 24.9 0.2 1,773.0 26.3 0.3 698 27.9

40–49 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 25.2 0.2 1,232 25.7 0.2 765 25.7 0.2 1,354.0 27.1 0.3 783 28.6

50–59 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 26.4 0.2 780 26.2 0.2 793 26.5 0.2 996.0 28.4 0.3 591 29.2

60–74 years . . . . . . . . . . . . 497 27.2 0.2 2,131 26.5 0.2 2,349 26.5 0.1 1,673.0 27.4 0.2 993 29.2

75 years and over . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,021.0 25.9 0.2 524 26.8


NOTES: BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by square of height in meters. NHES I: National Health Examination Survey, Cycle I, ages 20–74 years; and NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Suggested citation

Ogden CL, Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Flegal KM.Mean body weight, height, and body mass

index, United States 1960–2002. Advancedata from vital and health statistics; no 347.

Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center forHealth Statistics. 2004.

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height and weight in history

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