For the first time in over a decade, the rate of obesity among U.S. adults has leveled off, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, while the general obesity rate has shown a slight decline, the rate of severe obesity continues to rise, raising significant concerns about the long-term health implications for Americans.
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics released the report, which analyzes data collected from 2021 to 2023. The findings suggest that 40.3% of American adults are considered obese, compared to 41.9% in 2020. Though the 1.6% decrease is too small to be statistically significant, it represents a break in a decade-long trend of steadily increasing obesity rates. From 2011 onward, obesity among U.S. adults had been climbing annually, peaking in 2020.
The plateauing of general obesity rates is notable but does not reflect a reversal in the nation's struggle with obesity. The prevalence remains alarmingly high and far above the CDC's long-term goal under its "Healthy People 2030" initiative, which aims to reduce the rate of obesity to 38.6% by the end of the decade.
More concerning is the rise in severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. The CDC found that from 2021 to 2023, the age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity increased from 7.7% to 9.7%. The CDC's findings highlight significant gender differences, with severe obesity rates notably higher among women (12.1%) than men (6.7%). The report also indicates that the prevalence of severe obesity was highest among middle-aged adults (ages 40-59) for men, while women in their 20s and 30s showed the highest rates.
The rise in severe obesity is particularly troubling given the associated health risks. Individuals with severe obesity are at a much higher risk of developing serious health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The National Institutes of Health warns that those at the highest BMI levels face the greatest threat from these obesity-related diseases.
Dr. Karen Hacker, head of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, emphasized the need for continued prevention and intervention efforts. "This new data highlights the need for obesity prevention and treatment options, which start with building healthier communities where people of all ages have safe places for physical activity, and where health care and healthy food options are accessible and affordable for all," Hacker said in a statement.
The report also comes amid rising concern over access to weight loss treatments like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, which have become increasingly popular but remain costly. A Senate committee, led by Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, is set to question Novo Nordisk's CEO on the high prices of these drugs. Sanders and others argue that making these drugs more affordable could have a profound impact on public health.
"Epidemiologists estimate that more than 40,000 lives per year could be saved if Wegovy and similar weight-loss drugs were made affordable and widely available," Sanders' committee stated in a release ahead of the hearing. The surge in demand for these treatments has led to shortages in recent years, placing them on the Food and Drug Administration's shortage list.
In addition to national trends, the CDC's state-by-state analysis of obesity rates paints a stark picture. In 2023, more than a third of adults in 23 states were classified as obese. In contrast, a decade ago, no states had an obesity rate above 33%. Only the District of Columbia and Colorado had obesity rates below 25% in 2023, compared to seven states with similarly low rates in 2013.
The geographic disparity in obesity rates underscores the need for targeted public health efforts, especially in states where obesity rates continue to climb. Dr. Hacker stressed the importance of local and state interventions, such as increasing access to healthy foods, creating more opportunities for physical activity, and expanding healthcare resources focused on weight management.
