New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals a concerning trend: while the overall obesity rate in the US has remained relatively stable, the proportion of individuals with severe obesity, particularly women, has significantly increased over the past decade, The Associated Press reports.
A 2021-2023 survey of approximately 6,000 Americans found that nearly 1 in 10 reported severe obesity, a condition defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher, marking a considerable jump from the nearly 8% observed in a similar survey conducted between 2013 and 2014. The study also found that women were almost twice as likely as men to report severe obesity.
While the overall obesity rate, currently at around 40%, appeared to slightly decline from previous years, this change was not statistically significant. Dr. Samuel Emmerich, the CDC public health officer leading the study, emphasized that it’s too early to determine if new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound will have a substantial impact on the obesity epidemic.
“The lack of significant change in the overall obesity rate is troubling,” Dr. Emmerich said. “We need to understand why severe obesity is on the rise and address the root causes. This is particularly concerning given the link between obesity and a host of serious health problems.”
Experts point to several potential contributing factors to the rise in severe obesity, including hormonal changes, the impact of childbearing, and other yet-to-be-identified causes. Further research is needed to fully understand these trends.
The study also found that obesity rates were associated with education levels, with those holding a bachelor’s degree or higher experiencing a lower prevalence of obesity compared to those with less education.
These findings come on the heels of a separate CDC report highlighting significant geographical variations in obesity rates across the US. In 2023, obesity rates ranged from a low of under 24% in Washington, D.C. to a high of over 41% in West Virginia. The Midwest and South exhibited the highest rates, with more than 1 in 3 adults in 23 states reporting obesity.
Despite the concerning trends, Dr. Alyson Goodman, who leads the CDC’s population health team, expressed cautious optimism.
“The recent shift towards understanding obesity as a metabolic disease and the development of new interventions like weight-loss drugs are encouraging developments,” she said. “However, the key remains prevention, particularly starting in early childhood. We must prioritize preventing obesity in the first place and focus on preventing further weight gain even in those who have already developed the condition.”
