US Teen Obesity Rates Climb Over Decade, FAU Study Finds

Obesity prevalence peaks at 16.3% in 2021, with Black and Hispanic teens most affected

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:22am

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A new study from Florida Atlantic University's College of Medicine reveals a concerning rise in adolescent obesity in the United States over the past decade. Overall obesity among high school students climbed from 13.7% in 2013 to 15.9% in 2023, with Black and Hispanic teens experiencing the highest rates. In contrast, the proportion of overweight students declined, but fewer adolescents reported trying to lose weight in 2023 compared to 2013.

Why it matters

Adolescent obesity is linked to serious long-term health risks like diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health struggles. Understanding these trends is crucial for developing effective clinical and public health interventions to address this growing crisis.

The details

The study analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on 85,588 U.S. high school students from 2013 to 2023. Obesity rates peaked at 16.3% in 2021, with Black and Hispanic teens reaching highs of 21.2% and 20.2% respectively. In contrast, the proportion of overweight students declined from 16.6% to 14.7%, driven largely by decreases among male students. However, fewer adolescents reported trying to lose weight in 2023 (44.5%) compared to 2013 (47.7%), with the sharpest drops among 10th and 12th graders.

  • The study analyzed data from 2013 to 2023, the most recent data available from the CDC.
  • Overall obesity peaked at 16.3% in 2021.

The players

Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

The medical school that conducted the study on adolescent obesity trends in the U.S.

Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, FACPM

The study's co-author and the First Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at FAU's College of Medicine.

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What they’re saying

“In the U.S. today, adolescent obesity rates continue to rise while weight-loss attempts have steadily declined. These findings highlight increasing clinical and public health challenges and illustrate the urgent need for targeted interventions.”

— Charles H. Hennekens, Co-author and First Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine

What’s next

The researchers emphasize the need for school programs that boost nutrition knowledge, body image, and mental health, as well as public health policies that target motivation, such as the CDC's State Physical Activity and Nutrition program.

The takeaway

This study paints a concerning picture of rising adolescent obesity in the U.S., with troubling disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Addressing this crisis will require a multi-pronged approach of clinical interventions and public health initiatives to help teens build lasting healthy habits.