Tue Sep 24 04:02:46 UTC 2024: ## Severe Obesity on the Rise in the US, Especially Among Women
**Washington, D.C. -** While the overall obesity rate in the U.S. remains stubbornly high at around 40%, new government research has revealed a concerning trend: the proportion of Americans with severe obesity is increasing, particularly among women.
According to a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 10% of adults surveyed reported having severe obesity, a significant jump from the nearly 8% reported in 2013-2014. Women were found to be nearly twice as likely as men to report severe obesity.
While the overall obesity rate appeared to slightly decrease compared to the 2017-2020 survey, the change was deemed statistically insignificant, meaning it is too early to tell if new treatments like weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are having an impact.
Dr. Samuel Emmerich, the CDC public health officer who led the study, expressed caution: “We simply can’t see down to that detailed level to prescription medication use and compare that to changes in obesity prevalence.” He hopes future research will shed more light on the impact of these new treatments.
Experts like Solveig Cunningham, an Emory University global health professor specializing in obesity, highlight the concern surrounding the rise of severe obesity: “Seeing increases in severe obesity is even more alarming because that’s the level of obesity that’s most highly associated with some of the highest levels of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and lower quality of life.”
The causes of this trend, particularly among women, are still under investigation. Factors like hormonal effects, the impact of childbearing, and other potential causes are being explored.
The study also revealed stark disparities in obesity rates based on education levels. Almost 32% of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported having obesity, compared with about 45% of those with some college or a high school diploma or less.
This new research adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the seriousness of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. While the latest generation of weight-loss drugs may offer some hope, experts emphasize the importance of preventive measures, especially in early childhood.
“It’s really hard to get obesity to reverse at the individual level and at the population level,” said Cunningham, underscoring the need for a multi-faceted approach to tackling this complex public health issue.
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