About 40% of U.S. adults were obese in 2015-2016, up from 34% in 2007-2008, according to a study reported online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 8% of adults were severely obese, up from 6% in 2007-2008. Obesity increased among women and in adults aged 40 and older, while severe obesity increased in both men and women and adults under 60. Almost 19% of youth were obese in 2015-2016, about the same as in 2007-2008. Among adults aged 20 and older, obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 or more, and severe obesity a BMI of 40 or more. The findings are based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Related News Articles

Headline
The Food and Drug Administration May 16 announced it cleared the first blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The test, created by Fujirebio Diagnostics,…
Headline
Zaira Khalid, M.D., senior staff geriatric psychiatrist at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital, discusses the unique physical, emotional and social needs of…
Headline
An estimated 7.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the latest annual report by the Alzheimer's Association. Nearly two-thirds…
Headline
The deadline for health delivery organizations to apply for the AHA’s 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize is 1 p.m. ET May 6. The award honors organizations that…
Headline
A study published March 31 by the National Institutes of Health found that adults living in rural areas have worse cardiovascular health than those in urban…
Headline
Cigarette smoking by adults has dropped to its lowest level in 60 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. Despite that, tobacco…