Adult obesity prevalence in US remains high: CDC

LOS ANGELES - New population data from 2022 show 22 US states have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35 percent, compared to 19 states in 2021, according to data released Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are notable differences by race and ethnicity, as shown by combined CDC data from 2020 to 2022.

Black adults had the highest adult obesity prevalence of 38 percent. American Indian adults and Hispanic adults stood second and third with adult obesity prevalence of 33 and 32 percent, respectively, according to CDC data.

The results highlight the need for population-based interventions to ensure that all people have access to healthy foods, safe places for physical activity, stigma-free obesity prevention and treatment programs, and evidence-based health care services such as medication and surgery, said the CDC.

Adults with obesity are at increased risk for many other serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, severe outcomes from COVID-19, and poor mental health. Additionally, people with obesity report being stigmatized because of their weight, according to the CDC.