The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen gradually over the past decade. As of 2023, around ** percent of the population aged 18 years and older was obese. Obesity is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but is particularly troubling in the United States. Obesity in the United States The states with the highest prevalence of obesity are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. As of 2023, a shocking ** percent of the population in West Virginia were obese. The percentage of adults aged 65 years and older who are obese has grown in recent years, compounding health issues that develop with age. Health impacts of obesity Obesity is linked to several negative health impacts including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Unsurprisingly, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has increased in the United States over the years. As of 2022, around *** percent of the population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Some of the most common types of cancers caused by obesity include breast cancer in postmenopausal women, colon and rectum cancer, and corpus and uterus cancer.

In 2022, the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States was among Black individuals, with a rate of 184 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people in the United States in 2022, by race and ethnicity.

The adult obesity rate, or the percentage of the county population (age 18 and older*) that is obese, or has a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 [kg/m2], is illustrative of a serious health problem, in Champaign County, statewide, and nationally.

The adult obesity rate data shown here spans from Reporting Years (RY) 2015 to 2024. Champaign County’s adult obesity rate fluctuated during this time, peaking in RY 2022. The adult obesity rates for Champaign County, Illinois, and the United States were all above 30% in RY 2024, but the Champaign County rate was lower than the state and national rates. All counties in Illinois had an adult obesity rate above 30% in RY 2024, but Champaign County's rate is one of the lowest among all Illinois counties.

Obesity is a health problem in and of itself, and is commonly known to exacerbate other health problems. It is included in our set of indicators because it can be easily measured and compared between Champaign County and other areas.

This data was sourced from the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute’s and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Each year’s County Health Rankings uses data from the most recent previous years that data is available. Therefore, the 2024 County Health Rankings (“Reporting Year” in the table) uses data from 2021 (“Data Year” in the table). The survey methodology changed in Reporting Year 2015 for Data Year 2011, which is why the historical data shown here begins at that time. No data is available for Data Year 2018. The County Health Rankings website notes to use caution if comparing RY 2024 data with prior years.

*The percentage of the county population measured for obesity was age 20 and older through Reporting Year 2021, but starting in Reporting Year 2022 the percentage of the county population measured for obesity was age 18 and older.

Source: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps 2024. www.countyhealthrankings.org.

In 2023, Black adults had the highest obesity rates of any race or ethnicity in the United States, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics. As of that time, around ** percent of all Black adults were obese. Asians/Pacific Islanders had by far the lowest obesity rates. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a present and growing problem in the United States. An astonishing ** percent of the adult population in the U.S. is now considered obese. Obesity rates can vary substantially by state, with around ** percent of the adult population in West Virginia reportedly obese, compared to ** percent of adults in Colorado. The states with the highest rates of obesity include West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Diabetes Being overweight and obese can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Being overweight or obese is one of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to rise. It is estimated that just over ***** percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for ***** percent of all deaths.

West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas are the U.S. states with the highest percentage of their population who are obese. The states with the lowest percentage of their population who are obese include Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. Obesity in the United States Obesity is a growing problem in many countries around the world, but the United States has the highest rate of obesity among all OECD countries. The prevalence of obesity in the United States has risen steadily over the previous two decades, with no signs of declining. Obesity in the U.S. is more common among women than men, and overweight and obesity rates are higher among African Americans than any other race or ethnicity. Causes and health impacts Obesity is most commonly the result of a combination of poor diet, overeating, physical inactivity, and a genetic susceptibility. Obesity is associated with various negative health impacts, including an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and diabetes type 2. As of 2022, around 8.4 percent of the U.S. population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

Between 2017 and 2021, West Virginia had the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States, with a rate of 188 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by state.

Between 2015 and 2018, obesity rates in U.S. children and adolescents stood at 19.3 and 20.9 percent, respectively. This is a noteworthy increase compared to the percentages seen between 1988 and 1994.

U.S. high school obesity rates

Roughly 18 percent of black, as well as Hispanic students in the United States, were obese between 2016 and 2017. Male obesity rates were noticeably higher than those of female students for each of the ethnicities during the measured period. For example, about 22 percent of male Hispanic high school students were obese, compared to 14 percent of female students. The American states with the highest number of obese high school students in 2019 included Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively. Mississippi had a high school student obesity rate of over 23 percent that year.

Physically inactive Americans

Adults from Mississippi and Arkansas were also reported to be some of the least physically active people in the United States in 2018. When surveyed, over 30 percent of adults from Kentucky and Arkansas had not exercised within the preceding 30 days. The national physical inactivity average stood at approximately 26 percent that year.

This map shows where obesity and diabetes are happening in the US, by county. It shows each component of the map as its own layer, and also shows the patterns overlapping. Diabetes prevalence (% of adults)Obesity prevalence (% of adults)This data can be used to assess the health factors, and answer questions such as:Are certain counties more/less at risk in regards to diabetes and obesity?Are diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity happening within the same areas of the US?According to the CDC: "These data can help the public to better use existing resources for diabetes management and prevention efforts." The data comes from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the data vintage is 2013. To explore other county indicators, different vintages, or the original data, click here. To view the interactive map through the CDC website, click here. To learn more about the methodology of how county-level estimates are calculated, see this PDF.

For more recent aggregated data reports on childhood obesity in NM, visit NM Healthy Kids Healthy Communities Program, NMDOH: https://www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/pchb/hknm/TitleChildhood Obese and Overweight Estimates, NM Counties 2016 - NMCHILDOBESITY2017SummaryCounty level childhood overweight and obese estimates for 2016 in New Mexico. *Most recent data known to be available on childhood obesity*NotesThis map shows NM County estimated rates of childhood overweight and obesity. US data is available upon request. Published in May, 2022. Data is most recent known sub-national obesity data set. If you know of another resource or more recent, please reach out. emcrae@chi-phi.orgSourceData set produced from the American Journal of Epidemiology and with authors and contributors out of the University of South Carolina, using data from the National Survey of Children's Health. Journal SourceZgodic, A., Eberth, J. M., Breneman, C. B., Wende, M. E., Kaczynski, A. T., Liese, A. D., & McLain, A. C. (2021). Estimates of childhood overweight and obesity at the region, state, and county levels: A multilevel small-area estimation approach. American Journal of Epidemiology, 190(12), 2618–2629. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwab176 Journal article uses data fromThe United States Census Bureau, Associate Director of Demographic Programs, National Survey of Children’s Health 2020 National Survey of Children's Health Frequently Asked Questions. October 2021. Available from:https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nsch/data/datasets.htmlGIS Data Layer prepared byEMcRae_NMCDCFeature Servicehttps://nmcdc.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=80da398a71c14539bfb7810b5d9d5a99AliasDefinitionregionRegion NationallystateState (data set is NM only but national data is available upon request)fips_numCounty FIPScountyCounty NamerateRate of Obesitylower_ciLower Confidence Intervalupper_ciUpper Confidence IntervalfipstxtCounty FIPS text

In 2022, adults aged 80 to 84 years had the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States, with a rate of around 823 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people in the United States in 2022, by age.

In 2019, it was estimated that the total morbidity cost attributable to obesity in the United States was 172 billion U.S. dollars. This graph shows the total cost attributable to obesity in the United States in 2019, by type of cost.

In 2022, Kentucky had the highest incidence of obesity-associated cancer in the United States, with a rate of around 188 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people in the United States in 2022, by state.

In 2019, it was estimated that around 8.5 percent of deaths worldwide could be attributed to obesity. The countries with the highest share of deaths that could be attributed to obesity included Fiji, the Cook Islands, and the United Arab Emirates. This statistic shows the countries with the highest share of deaths attributable to obesity worldwide in 2019.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazil has been consistently increasing in recent years. While in 2008 an estimated ** percent of the population was considered overweight and ** percent was considered obese, by 2023, these figures reached over ** percent and more than ** percent, respectively. What is causing a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazil? There is not one single element causing the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Brazil, but a range of structural, cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Examples of these are changes in eating habits due to urbanization, the availability and affordability of certain products that make it more difficult to follow a healthy diet, and the level of nutritional awareness. The cost of overweight and obesity The biggest cost of overweight and obesity in Brazil falls on the population itself, with diseases such as hypertension, cancer, and diabetes increasing in prevalence as rates of these conditions rise. These diseases strongly impact the well-being of the population, and result in additional economic costs for the healthcare system. In Brazil, this economic loss is forecast to surpass ** billion U.S. dollars by 2030, and nearly *** billion U.S. dollars by 2060.

In 2020, around 2.2 billion adults aged 20 years and older worldwide were considered overweight or obese. This number is expected to increase to around 3.3 billion by the year 2035. This statistic shows the number of adults who were overweight or obese worldwide in 2020 and forecasts for the years 2025, 2030, and 2035.

In 2019, it was estimated that the total economic burden attributable to people with class I obesity in the United States was 77.3 billion U.S. dollars. This graph shows the total incremental annual cost attributable to obesity in the United States in 2019, by obesity class.

Quarterly sales of weight loss and anti-obesity drug Wegovy increased more than eightfold within only one year. The drug is manufactured by Danish biopharma company Novo Nordisk, primarily known for its focus on diabetes treatments. The most recent quarterly sales figure (Q4 2024) set a record at around 20 billion Danish kronor. Why Wegovy has blockbuster potential Wegovy and Novo Nordisk have been very present in the media lately, since the drug is expected to have huge potential in markets with large populations affected by overweight and obesity. In its latest report, the World Obesity Federation estimated the global population that is obese or overweight will increase from 2.6 billion individuals in 2020 to over four billion by 2035. The United States, which is the largest pharmaceutical market globally, is also one of the most obese countries in the world. It is estimated that more than 36 percent of adult Americans are obese. Thus, the preconditions for a drug like Wegovy are more than just a given. This is also reflected in Novo Nordisk's increasing share prices and a currently record-high market capitalization. The risks of weight loss drugs Wegovy seems to cut the risks of certain conditions that usually come with overweight and obesity, like stroke and heart attack. But of course, there are also risks that must be considered. The most common side effects of the drugs are nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, and vomiting. Doctors also warn that weight loss drugs like Wegovy can lead to serious complications for patients who need anesthesia for surgery when the stomach must be completely empty. There is an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration since these drugs slow down digestion. Another problem weight loss drugs can cause is that people, instead of changing their lifestyle and mostly out of convenience, immediately turn to such drugs.

Of the forty* men who have been elected to the office of U.S. president, the average weight of U.S. presidents has been approximately 189lbs (86kg). The weight range has been between 122lbs (55kg) and 332lbs (151kg), meaning that the heaviest president, William Howard Taft, was almost three times as heavy as the lightest president, James Madison (who was also the shortest president). Although Taft weighed over 300lbs during his presidency in 1909, he did implement a fitness and dietary regimen in the 1920s, that helped him lose almost 100lbs (45kg) before his death due to cardiovascular disease in 1930. Increase over time The tallest ever president, Abraham Lincoln (who was 6'4"), actually weighed less than the presidential average, and also less than the average adult male in the U.S. in 2018. It is important to note that the average weight of U.S. males has gradually increased in the past two decades, with some studies suggesting that it may have even increased by 15lbs (7kg) since the 1980s. The presidential averages have also increased over time, as the first ten elected presidents had an average weight of 171lbs (78kg), while the average weight of the ten most recent is 194lbs (88kg). Recent presidents In recent years, the heaviest president has been Donald Trump, who weighed 237lbs (108kg) during his first term in office; however medical reports published in June 2020 show that he gained 7lbs (3kg) during this term. There was also controversy in 2018, when it appeared that Trump's official height had been increased from 6'2" to 6'3", which many speculated was done to prevent him from being categorized as "obese" (according to his BMI). In the past half century, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton were the only other presidents to have weighed more than the presidential average, although both men were also 6'2" (188cm) tall. President Joe Biden weighs below the presidential average, at 177lbs (81kg).

The leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease and cancer. However, in 2022, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for around six percent of all deaths that year. In 2022, there were around 45 deaths from COVID-19 per 100,000 population.

Cardiovascular disease

Deaths from cardiovascular disease are more common among men than women but have decreased for both sexes over the past few decades. Coronary heart disease accounts for the highest portion of cardiovascular disease deaths in the United States, followed by stroke and high blood pressure. The states with the highest death rates from cardiovascular disease include Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. Smoking tobacco, physical inactivity, poor diet, stress, and being overweight or obese are all risk factors for developing heart disease.

Cancer

Although cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, like deaths from cardiovascular disease, deaths from cancer have decreased over the last few decades. The highest death rates from cancer come from lung cancer for both men and women. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer for women, while prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer for men. West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky lead the nation with the highest cancer death rates.

Net sales per quarter of Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk increased almost constantly in the provided period. The fourth quarter of 2024 set another record high, reaching nearly 86 billion Danish kroner. This statistic shows Novo Nordisk's net sales per quarter between 2021 and 2024. Shift change at big pharma's topNovo Nordisk has been in the public's focus lately, mostly due to its diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic/Wegovy. As a result, Novo Nordisk's share prices have increased massively, making it the world's third ranked pharmaceutical company based on market capitalization, topped only by Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson (which is not a pure play pharma company). As of September 2024, Novo Nordisk was valued at over 440 billion U.S. dollars, while Eli Lilly stood at almost half a trillion U.S. dollars. Is 'semaglutide' the new superstar?Novo Nordisk's highly valued products Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy are all based on semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Ozempic was approved in June 2017 in the U.S., as an injectable antidiabetic medication. In September 2019, a version for oral administration (Rybelsus) was approved. Finally, a high dosage version of the drug (Wegovy) was approved in June 2021, marketed as a weight loss/anti-obesity medication. Since overweight and obesity are huge problems in many (developed) countries, this product is believed to have very high market potential in the near future.