U.S. Obesity Rate Decreases in 2023 as Weight Loss Product Usage Increases – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
3:03 PM – Friday, December 13, 2024
According to a new study, the obesity rate in the U.S. saw its first decline in a decade last year, paralleling the increased usage of weight loss drugs like Ozempic.
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The study analyzed data from nearly 17 million adults in the U.S., revealing that the obesity rate decreased from 46.2% in 2021 to 45.6% in 2023, as reported in the journal JAMA Health Forum.
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. The study found the most significant reductions in the Southern U.S., particularly among women and individuals aged 66 to 75.
During the same period, the prescription of GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound has substantially increased. However, the researchers caution that it is difficult to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these trends.
Obesity remains defined as a BMI of 30 or above in the report.
The data indicated that the steepest decline occurred in the South, specifically among women and adults aged 66 to 75.
Notably, researchers mentioned, “The most significant decrease [in obesity] was in the South, which also had the highest observed…dispensing rate” for GLP-1 medications.
Led by Benjamin Nader, an assistant professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, the study was published on December 13th in JAMA Health Forum.
As Nader’s team pointed out, “The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has risen for many years. Some long-term predictions suggest that this trend will continue, while others anticipate a plateau.”
Meanwhile, sales of the injectable medications have skyrocketed, with improved results in weight loss outcomes.
The dataset included nearly 48 million BMI measurements, with a segment of participants monitored for their use of any GLP-1 medication.
Despite these promising findings, it may be premature to attribute the drop in obesity rates solely to GLP-1 medications. The researchers noted that the pandemic may have significantly impacted rates in the South, as COVID was disproportionately deadly for certain demographics.
Nevertheless, the overall news regarding Americans’ health is promising.
“While obesity continues to pose a significant public health challenge, the observed declines in obesity prevalence provide an encouraging shift from long-established increases,” stated Nader and his colleagues.
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