(File: Deepak Verma / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
The number of obese adults in America is "alarmingly high," according to a recent report.
Trust for America’s Health, a non-partisan public health policy, research and advocacy organization, revealed that 4 in 10 American adults have obesity.
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The group’s analysis follows a CDC report last year that found that the overall rate of obesity in the U.S. is high but holding steady, affecting about 40% of the population.
It even showed that, for the first time in more than a decade, the number of states with adult obesity rates at or above 35%, decreased from 23 to 19.
While the decline is positive, "it’s too soon to call it a trend," said J. Nadine Gracia, M.D., MSCE, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health.
The latest report analyzed data from the CDC’s 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which uses annual telephone surveys to collect data on health behaviors and chronic conditions in U.S. states and territories.
It’s not clear exactly what may be driving the apparent improvements in obesity. Wider use of drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound — which target appetite and slow digestion — could be starting to show up in reported data, said Aviva Musicus, a science director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group. Increased support for nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic might also be a factor, Garcia suggested.
States with the highest obesity rates
(Editor's note: Data for Tennessee was not available)
States with the most obese children (ages 6-17)
Obesity and increased health risks
Obesity and other diet-related diseases can lead to other health risks including poor mental and physical health, higher mortality, and higher healthcare costs, the report said.
In addition to developed behaviors or other health issues, obesity can be caused by a number of factors including accessibility to healthy and affordable foods, having access to safe places for physical activity, economic stability and having access to proper health care.
What they're saying:
"Structural barriers to healthy eating and physical activity need continued policy attention and investment," said Garcia. "It is vital that government and other sectors invest in – not cut – proven programs that support good nutrition and physical activity and ensure they reach all communities."
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a report by the Trust for America’s Health organization and The Associated Press. This story was reported from San Jose.