WASHINGTON (TNND) — In a shocking flip, weight problems charges within the United States have decreased for the primary time in over a decade, in keeping with a study published in the Journal of JAMA Health Forum. The research, which tracked 16.7 million adults over the previous ten years, discovered that grownup weight problems charges dropped from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023.
Although the lower is slight, it marks the primary decline since 2013. The research highlighted that probably the most vital drop was noticed amongst ladies aged 66 to 75 within the southern United States. Additionally, each Black and White adults skilled slight decreases in weight problems charges, whereas Asian adults noticed a slight improve. However, Asians proceed to have the bottom weight problems charges in comparison with different racial teams within the U.S.
Researchers recommend that the decline within the South could also be linked to the elevated use of weight-loss drugs, equivalent to semaglutide, identified commercially as Ozempic. This speculation is predicated on an evaluation of insurance coverage claims. However, researchers warning that it’s too early to definitively attribute the lower to those drugs.
The research additionally famous that the South skilled increased COVID-19 mortality charges amongst people with weight problems, which may have influenced the info, in keeping with the National Library of Medicine.
The researchers acknowledged the restrictions of utilizing Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of well being, describing it as an “imperfect proxy for physique fats.” They referred to as for future research to discover different measures, equivalent to physique composition or metabolic well being, to higher perceive the shifts in weight problems charges.
