Overweight & Obesity Table 5: Ten Key Facts about Overweight and Obesity in U.S. Women

Obesity (BMI at or above 30) is more likely among U.S. women as their socioeconomic status decreases.   In the U.S., obesity appears most likely in low income women of color.   Among U.S. adults, African-American women have the highest rates of overweight (78 percent) and obesity (50.8)   U.S. women are more likely to be overweight (BMI at or above 25) as they increase in age.   Women with obesity are four times more likely to develop osteoarthritis as non-obese women.   In middle and older age women, heavier weight is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors.   Women with obesity appear to experience much more prejudice and discrimination than men with obesity.   After menopause, women with obesity have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.   There is a direct association between body weight and deaths from all causes in women between 30 and 55 years of age.   Obesity affects ovulation (fertility or ability to conceive), response to fertility treatment, pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes.