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We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com.<\/strong> <\/p>\nBack to Healio<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nKey takeaways:<\/h2>\n\nAn estimated 107 million American adults were living with obesity in 2022, up from 34.7 million in 1990.<\/li>\n The prevalence of the chronic disease is estimated to rise from 42.5% in 2022 to 46.9% by 2035.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe prevalence of obesity in the United States is projected to increase to 126 million by 2035, according to a new study published in JAMA<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201cObesity continues to increase, especially in young people, and remains a major public health threat,\u201d Catherine O. Johnson, PhD, MPH,<\/b> a scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, told Healio. \u201cOne of our major findings was the large increases in the prevalence of obesity in younger age groups for all race and ethnicity groups, highlighting the need for effective strategies to prevent weight gain and the development of obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n
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JAMA<\/em>. 2026;doi:10.1001\/jama.2025.26817.
Healio recently reported that obesity prevalence in the U.S. is 75.2% under new criteria proposed by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology<\/i> Commission.<\/p>\n
But recently updated estimates of obesity prevalence and its forecasted future trends \u201care not available by race and ethnicity subgroups within U.S. states,\u201d Johnson and colleagues pointed out.<\/p>\n
The researchers estimated the prevalence of obesity \u2014 defined as a BMI of 30 kg\/m2<\/sup> or above \u2014 among American adults aged 20 years or older from 1990 to 2022 while forecasting this prevalence by 2035 using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as well as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Gallup Daily Survey.<\/p>\nJohnson and colleagues reported that an estimated 107 million American adults [95% uncertainty interval (UI), 101-113 million] were living with obesity in 2022.<\/p>\n
This amount represented 42.5% (95% UI, 40.2%-45%) of the adult population and was an increase from 34.7 (95% UI, 31.1-38.3) million adults in 1990.<\/p>\n
The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. in 2022 ranged from 40.1% (95% UI, 37.8%-42.5%) for non-Hispanic white men to 56.9% (95% UI, 54.1%-59.9%) for non-Hispanic Black women.<\/p>\n
The researchers noted obesity prevalence by states differed substantially, with it being highest in Midwestern and Southern states.<\/p>\n
\u201cStates with consistently high prevalence of obesity, such as Oklahoma, had among the lowest percentage of people meeting dietary intake recommendations,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n
Johnson and colleagues additionally estimated that 46.9% (95% UI, 43.9%-49.9%) of the American adult population will live with obesity in 2035, \u201cwith prevalence by demographic group ranging from 43.1% (95% UI, 39.8%-46.6%) to 59.5% (95% UI, 56%-62.9%).\u201d<\/p>\n
They acknowledged that BMI \u201cmay incorrectly estimate the amount and location of adipose tissue vs. lean muscle mass\u201d but wrote that BMI-based measures \u201care an important proxy that can be used to assess population-level risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
They also urged to interpret forecasted data with caution \u201cbecause the past may not predict the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasingly, clinicians will need to be prepared to care for patients with very high BMI,\u201d Johnson told Healio. \u201cOur health systems and payors will need to provide access to the therapies these patients will need.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added clinicians play a critical role \u201cin helping patients maintain a healthy weight early in life, starting in childhood. But the messages and strategies needed to do this have to start very early in life \u2014 so supporting early childhood education around maintaining a healthy weight is key.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarding future research directions, Johnson acknowledged the possible impact of newer weight loss drugs \u201cremains to be seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAccess to these medications, currently limited by cost and payor policies, is a necessary step if they are going to influence population health,\u201d she said. \u201cIn addition, public health research should focus on implementation research for strategies to prevent initial weight gain, including interventions focused on diet and physical activity, especially for children and young adults.\u201d<\/p>\n
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