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For the first time in over a decade, obesity rates among U.S. adults have shown a slight decline. A new study published in the *JAMA Health Forum* reveals that obesity rates decreased from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023. This marks the first recorded drop in obesity rates in more than ten years. The study reviewed the body mass index (BMI) of nearly 17 million U.S. adults over a decade, noting a decrease in average BMI from 30.24 in 2022 to 30.21 in 2023.
The decline in obesity rates is partly attributed to the increased use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, found in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The U.S. saw a 700% increase in the use of these medications for weight loss from 2019 to 2023. The South, which had the highest dispensing rate of these drugs, saw a significant decrease in obesity rates.
John Brownstein, a study co-author and ABC News contributor, noted that women and adults aged 66 to 75 experienced the largest decreases in obesity. However, the study also suggests that other factors, such as lifestyle changes post-COVID-19, may have contributed to the decline.
Despite the positive trend, experts caution that it is too early to determine if this decrease will continue. Obesity remains a significant public health issue, with nearly 60% of U.S. adults with obesity having high blood pressure and approximately 23% having diabetes.