Obesity in the U.S. is still on the rise with dangerous implications for the health of millions of Americans, a new study from the American heart Association shows
The percentage of people living with the chronic health condition that can elevate the risk of developing cancer, dementia and heart disease has surged 37 percent between 1999 and 2023, more than 20 years of data have revealed
Obesity prevalence among the nearly 8,700 people included in the study increased from 30 percent to 41 percent and abdominal obesity — characterized by fat specifically around the abdomen — rose from 48 percent to 61 percent, the most recent year for obesity data, 2023, shows
Some 40 percent of adults and 20 percent of youth under the age of 20 met the criteria for obesity in 2023, the research published Tuesday found
There were spikes in all kinds of obesity for both adults and youth during the study period, including a 50 percent rise in severe obesity and a three-fold increase in abdominal obesity among youth
Women were more likely to have severe and abdominal obesity, too, which the researchers said could be due to differences in hormones
The findings build on previous projections showing skyrocketing obesity rates in the coming years. More than 60 percent of Americans could live with obesity by 2050, a 2024 study predicted
It’s unclear what similar projections might look like going forward, especially given the rise in Americans taking GLP-1 and other weight loss drugs that can lead to massive weight loss transformations. Weight loss drugs were still fairly new in 2023, but usage has reached a record high, according to a new national poll
It’s also worth noting that the study uses body mass index to measure obesity, a calculation based on peoples’ height and weight that was created in the 1830s. That is the long-held standard for defining obesity, but researchers have said recently it may actually vastly underestimate obesity levels
Still, the findings clearly show obesity rates have continued to rise and better understanding the burden in any way could be a major part of reversing those trends, Dr. Anum Minhas, an assistant professor of medicine in cardiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, explained in a statement
“Examining national trends in obesity can help determine which segments of the population may benefit the most from screening, how real impact of implementing public health initiatives to reduce the burden of obesity,” she said
Rising obesity rates in the U.S. have been tied to a diet increasingly dominated by ultraprocessed foods, a more sedentary lifestyle, poorer mental health and less sleep and social factors. Genetics also play a massive role
“Research shows that social determinants of health — such as access to nutritious food, safe spaces for physical activity, access to relthcare — are powerful drivers of obesity risk, underscoring the need to address the conditions in which people live, work and grow,” UCLA Health’s Dr. Arpana Church said in September
Weight loss drugs can help mitigate obesity impacts, but the drugs have been fairly unaffordable until recently. That’s something drugmakers are hoping to change and a new Trump administration pilot program will offer some drugs to specific Medicare patients for only $50 a month through next year
