It looks like America isn't winning its war on obesity. More than two-thirds of Americans are now either obese or overweight, according to a new study.
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who studied data of more than 15,000 adults from 2007 to 2012, found that 40 percent of men were overweight and 35 percent of men were obese. They estimate that 30 percent of women were overweight and 37 percent were obese.
Recommended For You
The study was released Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Adult Americans who are obese now outnumber those who are considered overweight, according to the research, which estimates that 67.6 million Americans over the age of 25 are obese and an additional 65.2 million are overweight.
The results are similar to those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but still provide an alarming new statistic on the health of the country. When comparing figures to 20 years ago, the study shows a shocking increase in obesity numbers. Then, 63 percent of men and 55 percent of women were overweight or obese.
Obesity and excess weight is tied to many health ailments, including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, meaning that the increasing obesity statistics signal "an ongoing upward swing in chronic health conditions as well," researchers said.
In a statement, researcher Lin Yang from the Washington University School of Medicine called the data a "wake-up call" to implement more aggressive policies and practices to combat obesity.
"An effort that spans multiple sectors must be made to stop or reverse this trend that is compromising and shortening the lives of many," Yang said.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
