Summary
There are now fewer states in the U.S. where 35% or more of their population is obese, marking the first decrease in over ten years. However, cuts to federal health programs might threaten this progress.
Key Facts
- The number of states with obesity rates of 35% or higher decreased from 23 to 19 in 2024.
- This data comes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- The analysis was conducted by the nonprofit group Trust for America’s Health.
- The CDC previously reported that about 40% of the U.S. population is considered obese.
- There are concerns that cuts to federal health programs could negatively impact these improvements in obesity rates.
