[Source – health.economictimes.indiatimes.com]
A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that while overall obesity levels in the U.S. have held steady, the number of people with severe obesity, particularly women, has increased significantly. The report, based on a 2021-2023 survey involving 6,000 participants, found that the U.S. obesity rate is about 40%, with nearly 1 in 10 people reporting severe obesity. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to experience severe obesity, highlighting a gender disparity that has emerged over the past decade.
Dr. Samuel Emmerich, the CDC public health officer leading the study, explained that while the overall obesity rate showed a slight decline compared to the 2017-2020 survey, the change was not statistically significant. “It’s too early to tell whether emerging obesity treatments, such as weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, will impact the epidemic,” Emmerich said. He stressed that the increase in severe obesity—from nearly 8% in 2013-2014 to close to 10% in the latest survey—underscores a growing public health concern. Despite advances in treatment, the country’s obesity problem has shown little improvement since it began rising rapidly in the 1990s.
The Challenges of Measuring and Addressing Severe Obesity
The CDC report highlighted that severe obesity is measured using Body Mass Index (BMI), a tool that calculates obesity levels based on height and weight. While widely used, BMI has been criticized for being a flawed measure, though it remains the standard for identifying obesity. Severe obesity is defined as having a BMI of 40 or higher, compared to a BMI of 30 for those considered obese. Health experts are alarmed by the rise in severe obesity, as it is strongly linked to a range of serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a reduced quality of life.
Solveig Cunningham, an expert on global health from Emory University who was not involved in the study, emphasized the severity of this trend. “Severe obesity is the level most closely tied to the highest rates of chronic illnesses. It’s concerning to see these increases, especially without clear reasons behind them,” Cunningham noted. She pointed out that the causes behind the rise in severe obesity remain unclear, but potential factors could include hormonal influences, childbearing, or other biological and social dynamics that require further investigation.
Disparities in Obesity Rates by Education and Region
The CDC study also shed light on the variations in obesity rates based on education levels. Individuals with higher educational attainment were less likely to experience obesity. About 32% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported having obesity, compared to 45% of those with some college education or a high school diploma or less. These findings highlight the complex interplay between education, socioeconomic status, and health outcomes.
Geographic differences were also evident in the study. Obesity rates in 2023 varied widely across U.S. states and territories, with West Virginia reporting the highest rate at over 41%, while Washington, D.C., had the lowest at under 24%. The Midwest and the South recorded the highest obesity rates, with more than 1 in 3 adults experiencing obesity in 23 states. Before 2013, no state had an obesity rate exceeding 33%. Dr. Alyson Goodman, head of the CDC’s population health team, expressed concern over the widespread prevalence of obesity. “When you look at the data mapped across the U.S., the shift in obesity rates from lower levels to higher ones is disheartening,” Goodman said.
Despite these sobering statistics, experts remain cautiously optimistic about the future. Goodman noted that the recent understanding of obesity as a metabolic disease, coupled with the availability of new weight-loss medications, offers hope. However, the key to long-term progress lies in prevention, starting in early childhood. As Cunningham emphasized, preventing obesity in the first place, or at least halting further weight gain, is crucial. “Once obesity sets in, reversing it is challenging, both at the individual and population levels. It’s no surprise that we aren’t seeing significant declines in obesity rates,” she concluded.
