Severe Obesity Increases in US

Body Weight and Severe Obesity Rates in the United States

A recent government study has revealed that severe obesity, which refers to the condition of having excessive fat stored in the body, has significantly increased in the United States over the past decade. This poses a major public health concern in the country.

Obesity Rates in the United States

According to a study conducted between 2021 and 2023, the obesity rate in the United States is approximately 40 percent. Out of the 6,000 people surveyed, almost one in 10 individuals reported severe obesity. Notably, women were nearly twice as likely as men to report severe obesity.

Although the overall obesity rate seemed to have decreased compared to the previous survey conducted between 2017 and 2020, this change was not considered statistically significant. In other words, the decrease in rates may not be statistically reliable due to the small sample size.

Impact of New Treatments for Obesity

Dr. Samuel Emmerich, the CDC public health officer leading the study, stated that it is too early to determine whether new obesity treatments, such as weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, can effectively address the disease. The study did not analyze the correlation between prescription medication use and changes in obesity prevalence.

Long-Term Trends in Obesity

The study’s results indicate that the overall obesity rate in the United States has remained relatively stable over the past ten years. However, the rate of severe obesity has increased from almost eight percent in the 2013-2014 study to nearly 10 percent in the most recent survey. Prior to this, obesity had been rapidly rising in the country since the 1990s, as shown by federal studies.

Factors Influencing Severe Obesity

Measures of obesity and severe obesity are based on the body mass index (BMI), which takes into account an individual’s height and weight. Severe obesity is defined as having a BMI of 40 or higher. Solveig Cunningham, an Emory University global health professor specializing in obesity, expressed concern over the rising rates of severe obesity. This level of obesity is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a lower quality of life.

It remains unclear why rates of severe obesity are increasing, as well as why women have higher rates compared to men. Possible factors include hormonal effects, the impact of childbearing, and other causes that require further investigation.

Obesity Rates by Education and Geographic Location

The study also found that obesity rates vary based on education. Approximately 32 percent of individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported obesity, while around 45 percent of those with some college or less had obesity.

Geographically, obesity rates differ across U.S. states and territories. The highest obesity levels were observed in West Virginia, where approximately 41 percent of adults are obese. Conversely, the lowest levels were found in Washington, D.C., with less than 24 percent of adults being obese. The Midwest and the South had the highest obesity rates among regions.

All U.S. states and territories had obesity rates exceeding 20 percent, with more than one in three adults being obese in 23 states. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years, as no state had such high obesity rates before 2013.

Efforts to Address Obesity

While the prevalence of obesity remains a concerning issue, recent attention on understanding obesity as a metabolic disease and the development of new drug treatments provide hope for addressing the problem. Preventing obesity, particularly starting in early childhood, is crucial. For individuals already dealing with obesity, preventing further weight gain should be the primary goal.

Words in This Story

1. statistically – of or relating to the principles of statistics
2. prescription – a written direction for a therapeutic or corrective agent
3. prevalence – the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time
4. cardiovascular – of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
5. diabetes – a variable disorder of carbohydrate metabolism

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education

The article primarily addresses the issue of obesity and its impact on public health in the United States. This is directly connected to SDG 3, which focuses on promoting good health and well-being. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the importance of preventing obesity through education, which connects to SDG 4, which aims to ensure quality education for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
• Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles

The article highlights the need to address obesity as a non-communicable disease and promote mental health and well-being, which aligns with Target 3.4. It also mentions the importance of access to quality healthcare services and medicines, which relates to Target 3.8. Additionally, the article emphasizes the role of education in preventing obesity and promoting sustainable lifestyles, connecting to Target 4.7.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.4.2: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease
• Indicator 3.8.2: Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income
• Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator 3.4.2 can be used to measure progress towards reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.
• Indicator 3.8.2 can be used to measure progress towards achieving universal health coverage and financial risk protection.
• Indicator 4.7.1 can be used to measure the extent to which education for sustainable development is integrated into national education policies, curricula, teacher education, and student assessment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: learningenglish.voanews.com