Obesity rate in U.S. adults no longer growing.

U.S. Obesity Rates Plateau for the First Time in Over a Decade

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a glimmer of hope in the fight against obesity in the United States. For the first time in over a decade, the national obesity rate has not increased, according to the agency’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

After steadily rising for years, the adult obesity rate has stabilized at 40.3%, down slightly from 41.9% in 2020. While this modest decline is not statistically significant, it marks a departure from the trend of increasing rates since 2011.

Despite this plateau, the current obesity rate remains above the Healthy People 2030 goal of 36%. Adults aged 40 to 59 continue to face the highest risk of obesity, with a prevalence of 46.4%, while those aged 20 to 39 exhibit the lowest rates at 35.5%.

The CDC’s survey also highlights a concerning trend of increasing severe obesity rates. The proportion of adults with a BMI of 40 or higher has risen from 7.7% to 9.4%. This alarming statistic underscores the serious health risks associated with extreme weight gain, including heart disease and diabetes.