Obesity rates in the United States have seen a modest decline, with experts pointing to the potential role of weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the obesity rate for adults over 20 fell from 41.9% in 2017–2020 to 40.3% in 2021–2023. However, severe obesity rose from 9.2% to 9.7% during the same period.
These drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, were originally developed for type 2 diabetes but have shown promise in treating obesity and related conditions like heart disease, kidney issues, and sleep apnoea. Rozalina McCoy, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, noted that the medications have 'transformed' diabetes care by improving health outcomes, including reducing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Despite the positive trend, experts caution against overinterpretation. John Morton, an obesity doctor at Yale School of Medicine, described the decline as 'a faint glimmer that it might be plateauing.' He also highlighted other factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have disproportionately affected older and heavier individuals, potentially skewing the data.
The rise in severe obesity remains a concern, as this group faces the highest health risks. McCoy warned, 'I don't look at that study as being reassuring. I think it's a sign that we're still heading in the wrong direction.' However, Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, suggested that better treatments might be allowing high-risk patients to live longer, contributing to the increase in severe obesity rates.
About 12% of American adults report having taken a GLP-1 agonist, with 6% currently using one. However, affordability remains a barrier, as half of users find the drugs difficult to afford. Despite this, experts are optimistic about the potential of these medications, especially if oral formulations become available, which could broaden their population-level benefits.
