Obesity Rates On The Rise In Shocking New Report
Obesity rates in the U.S. remain high, but the number of people with severe obesity, especially women, has been climbing, according to recent government research.
The latest CDC survey, conducted between 2021 and 2023, shows that about 40% of Americans are obese. What’s more concerning is that nearly 1 in 10 have severe obesity. And when it comes to severe obesity, women are almost twice as likely as men to struggle with it.
While the overall obesity rate seems to have dropped slightly since the 2017-2020 survey, experts say the change is too small to be statistically significant. So, we can’t say for sure if it’s real progress or just a fluke. That means it’s still unclear whether new weight-loss treatments, like popular medications Wegovy and Zepbound, will make a noticeable dent in the obesity epidemic anytime soon.
Dr. Samuel Emmerich, the CDC’s public health officer, says it’s too early to tell if these drugs are helping to lower obesity rates. “Hopefully, we’ll get clearer data in the future,” he says.
However, one alarming finding stands out: severe obesity rates have risen.
Back in 2013-2014, around 8% of Americans were severely obese. Now, that number has grown to nearly 10%. Severe obesity is linked to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes, making this increase particularly concerning.
Dr. Solveig Cunningham, an obesity expert at Emory University, is puzzled as to why severe obesity is rising, especially among women. She suggests that hormones, pregnancy, or other factors could be at play.
The study also highlighted that education plays a role. Obesity rates are higher among those with less education. Nearly 45% of people with a high school diploma or less reported being obese, compared to about 32% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Despite these worrisome trends, there’s hope. Understanding obesity as a metabolic disease and focusing on prevention, especially in early childhood, could lead to better outcomes in the future.
