STUDY: Projections of U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity

A new study from the CHOICES Project, “Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity,” was published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.


Close to half of the the U.S. population is projected to have obesity by 2030This study finds that about half of the adult U.S. population will have obesity and about a quarter will have severe obesity by 2030. Severe obesity—once a rare condition—is projected to be the most common BMI category in 10 states and in some demographic subgroups. The researchers said the predictions are troubling because the health and economic effects of obesity and severe obesity take a toll on several aspects of society; yet, these findings could help inform state policy makers. For example, previous research suggests that sugary drink taxes have been an effective and cost-effective strategy for curtailing the rise in obesity rates. Prevention efforts will be key in reversing these trends.

To learn more, read a summary and the abstract of this paper.

Read the press release.

See where obesity is headed in the U.S. & in each state

Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity.
Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Giles CM, Flax CN, Long MW, Gortmaker SL. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:2440-50. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1909301


State-Level Trends in Obesity with Zach Ward

Lead author Zach Ward discusses the paper with the Center for Health Decision Science.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leo-kiA3-bY]