Sept. 13, 2024 – Obesity remains a significant health issue in the United States, even as weight loss drugs are getting more popular, according to new data from the CDC.
On Thursday, the CDC reported that in 23 states, at least 35% of adults are now classified as obese – a sharp rise compared to 2013, when no state had an obesity rate exceeding 35%.
Nationally, 20% of adults in every state are obese, the CDC said, with the highest rates found in the South and Midwest. Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia had obesity rates over 40% each. Colorado and the District of Columbia were at the low end, with an obesity rate between 20% and 25%.
Adult obesity decreased as education level increased. The CDC said obesity was found in 36.5% of adults without a high school diploma, 34.7% of adults with a high school diploma, 35.7% of adults with some college education, and 27.1% of college graduates.
Breaking the data down demographically, Asian adults didn't have an obesity prevalence above 35% in any state. Black adults had an obesity rate above 35% in 38 states, Hispanic adults in 34 states, American Indian or Alaska Native adults in 30 states, and White adults in 16 states.
The CDC report was based on self-reported height and weight data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. An adult with obesity has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI estimates how healthy your weight is based on your height.
Jamy Ard, MD, of the Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management Center told Yahoo Life that national obesity rates will remain high even in the age of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. Many people taking those drugs have very high BMIs, and though they lose weight, they still have a BMI over 30, he said.
“If the CDC calls up and they take the survey … they would still be classified as obese,” he said.
