Adult Obesity Rates Decline in Some U.S. States, Report Finds
Source: M. Spencer Green Key Points: U.S. adult obesity rates have slightly declined, with 19 states now above 35%, down from 23 in 2023. West Virginia records the highest rate (41.4%), while Colorado has the lowest (25%). Childhood obesity continues to rise, now over 21%. The number of U.S. states with U.S. adult obesity rates at or above 35% has declined for the first time in more than ten years, according to a new report released Thursday by the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health. The analysis, based on 2024 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that 19 states reported adult obesity rates of 35% or higher—down from 23 states in 2023. While the decrease is modest, it marks the first national improvement in obesity rates since 2012. Rates still high in South West Virginia recorded the highest U.S. adult obesity rates at 41.4%, followed by states across the South, Plains, and Midwest. Colorado reported the lowest rate at 25%. Coastal states, incl...