In the United States, the general rate of obesity among adults has stabilized, but the rate of obesity among adults has increased. Severe obesity According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's on the rise.
A report compiled by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found that the obesity rate among the country's adults was about 40.3% between August 2021 and August 2023.
The obesity rate among adults in 2020 was 41.9%.
The slight drop in obesity rates is too small to be considered a reversal of the growth momentum. nationwide epidemicBut this represents a distinct change from previous years.
Since 2011, the C.D.C.'s report has shown that the share of American adults struggling with obesity has been steadily rising.
Additionally, rates of severe obesity continue to rise even as rates of general obesity decline.
According to the C.D.C., no matter which direction the obesity crisis is heading, rates are still too high.
“From 2013-2014 to August 2021-August 2023, there was no significant change in the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among adults, while the age-adjusted prevalence of severe obesity increased from 7.7% to 9.7%,” the CDC reported.
Individuals who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher are considered obese. Individuals who have a BMI of 40 or higher are considered severely obese.
The CDC found that the prevalence of severe obesity was lower among men (6.7%) than among women (12.1%), and also within each age group. “Among men, the prevalence was highest among those aged 40–59 years. Among women, the prevalence was higher among those aged 20–39 and 40–59 years than among those aged 60 years and older.”
One of the long-term goals of the C.D.C.’s national “Healthy People 2030” plan is to “help people eat healthy foods and get enough physical activity to reach and maintain a healthy weight.”
“Healthy People 2030” aims to reduce obesity rates to below 38.6% by 2030, but also states that the problem is only “getting worse.”
