US Sees First Decline in States with High Obesity Rates i...

Washington D.C. – For the first time in more than ten years, the number of U.S. states with adult obesity rates at or above 35% has decreased, according to a new report released Thursday by Trust for America's Health (TFAH). This marks a potentially encouraging shift in the nation's ongoing struggle with excess weight.

The "State of Obesity: 2025" report, analyzing 2024 data from the CDC, found that 19 states now meet this high obesity threshold, down from 23 states in the previous year. This reduction offers a glimmer of hope amidst persistently high national obesity levels.

Despite this positive development, the overall adult obesity rate across the U.S. remains alarmingly high, affecting approximately 40% of the population. Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of TFAH, cautioned that it is "too soon to call it a trend."

The report also highlights significant risks to this nascent progress, citing recent federal funding cuts, staff layoffs, and the elimination of programs dedicated to chronic disease prevention. These actions could jeopardize efforts to sustain and expand improvements in public health.

A U.S. Health and Human Services Department spokesman, Andrew Nixon, stated that the administration is "encouraged by the new data." He added that public health programs are being restructured to "eliminate waste, reduce bureaucracy, and redirect resources toward real prevention."

The findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the obesity epidemic, which continues to disproportionately affect certain demographic groups and regions across the country. Addressing these disparities will be crucial for future success.

Historical Context and Data Sources: The "State of Obesity: 2025" report by Trust for America's Health draws primarily from 2024 data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This annual analysis has consistently tracked obesity trends, revealing that before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%, a figure that climbed to a dozen states by 2019.
Geographic Variations in Obesity Rates: The report detailed significant state-by-state differences in adult obesity rates for 2024. West Virginia recorded the highest rate at 41.4%, followed by Mississippi at 40.4%, and Louisiana at 39.2%. Conversely, Colorado maintained the lowest rate at 25.0%, with Hawaii and Massachusetts both at 27.0%, and Washington D.C. at 25.5%.
Demographic Disparities and Socioeconomic Factors: Obesity rates continue to show stark disparities across different population groups. Black adults experienced the highest prevalence at 49.9%, followed by Latino adults at 45.6%. The report also noted that individuals in rural communities tend to have higher obesity rates compared to those in metropolitan areas, and rates are generally lower among people with college degrees and higher household incomes.
Potential Drivers of Recent Progress: While the exact reasons for the slight decline in states with high obesity rates are not definitively clear, experts suggest several contributing factors. These include the increasing availability and use of new weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, which target appetite and slow digestion. Additionally, increased support for nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic might have played a role in stabilizing or improving some rates.
Threats to Continued Progress: Despite the encouraging signs, the report emphasizes that federal actions pose a significant threat to sustaining this progress. Proposed budget cuts, staff reductions, and the elimination of programs within the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC could severely undermine efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases.
Recommendations for Policy Action: Trust for America's Health outlined several policy recommendations to combat the obesity crisis. These include strengthening CDC's chronic disease prevention programs, reversing proposed cuts to nutrition assistance initiatives like SNAP and WIC, and improving the nutritional quality of available foods. The report also advocates for front-of-package nutrition labels and preserving access to obesity prevention and treatment care.
Childhood Obesity and Emerging Definitions: The report also highlighted rising obesity rates among children and adolescents, with over 21% of those aged 2 to 19 affected, based on 2021-2023 NHANES data. Separately, new research co-authored by Harvard-Mass General specialists suggests that under an expanded definition of obesity, which includes body fat distribution beyond BMI, the prevalence in the U.S. could rise significantly from 40% to 70%.