Three-Quarters of US Adults Are Now Overweight or Obese

A recent study found that nearly three-quarters of US adults are overweight or obese, with significant implications for the nation's health and medical costs. The study revealed a striking rise in obesity rates nationwide since 1990, when just over half of adults were overweight or obese. Obesity rates have increased across all ages, with more people becoming overweight or obese at younger ages than in the past. Both overweight and obesity conditions can raise the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, and shorten life expectancy. The study's authors are particularly concerned about the steep rise in obesity rates among children, with more than one in three now overweight or obese. If left unchecked, the number of overweight and obese people is forecast to continue rising, reaching nearly 260 million people by 2050. The study highlights the need for aggressive intervention to address the growing burden of weight-related diseases. The findings have wide-reaching implications for the nation's health and medical costs. The study's authors documented increases in overweight and obesity rates across all ages, with significant increases among younger populations. The growing obesity epidemic poses a significant threat to public health and requires urgent attention and action.