Obesity Decreasing Slightly In America, Survey Finds
Amanda L. Chan
Updated
A recent Gallup poll shows a little bit of good news with regard to America'sobesity epidemic: Obesity rates are decreasing slightly across most demographic groups, unlike the last two years.
More people are normal weight than overweight in the United States (36.6 percent, compared with 35.8 percent), a phenomenon that hasn't occurred in more than three years. However, when you add together the number of Americans who are overweight AND the number who are obese, that number is still extremely high -- at 61.6 percent -- and is greater than the number of normal weight Americans.
Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) of 25 to 29.9, while obese is defined as having a BMI of 30 or above. Normal weight is defined as having a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.
Black people are still the demographic with the highest incidence of obesity, with 35.4 percent obese so far this year. However, the incidence of obesity has decreased from last year, going down 0.6 percent. In 2008, 35.1 percent of these people were obese.
2. Ages 45-64: 30.7%
Among people ages 45 to 64, 30.7 percent are obese so far this year. This group has also seen a (very) slight decrease in obesity, though, going down by 0.2 percent. In 2008, 29.5 percent of these people were obese.
3. Annual Income Less Than $36,000: 30.3%
Among people in this income group, 30.3 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity has decreased by 0.8 percent from last year, by 0.8 percent. In 2008, 30 percent of these people were obese.
4. Ages 30-44: 27.9%
Among people ages 30 to 44, 27.9 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity has decreased by 0.2 percent from last year. In 2008, 27 percent of these people were obese.
5. Men: 27.7%
Among men, 27.7 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity among men has decreased by 0.4 percent from last year. In 2008, 27 percent of men were obese.
6. Hispanics: 27.4%
Among Hispanic people, 27.4 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity among Hispanics has decreased by 0.8 percent from last year. In 2008, 27.4 percent of Hispanics were obese.
7. Annual Income $36,000-$89,999: 25.8%
Among people in this income group, 25.8 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity among this income group has decreased by 1 percent from last year. In 2008, 25.8 percent of this group was obese.
8. Whites: 24.8%
Among white people, 24.8 percent are obese so far this year. Obesity among this income group decreased by 0.6 percent from last year. In 2008, 24.2 percent of white people were obese.
9. Ages 65+: 24.6%
People ages 65 and older actually haven't experienced any increase or decrease in obesity so far this year. In 2008, 23.4 percent of this age group was obese.
10. Women: 24.6%
Women and elderly people have the same incidence of obesity, according to the poll, with 24.6 percent of them obese. However, women have slimmed down just slightly from last year, with a 0.5 percent decrease in obesity. In 2008, 23.9 percent of women were obese.
11. Annual Income More Than $90,000: 21%
So far this year, 21 percent of people who make more than $90,000 a year are obese, which is a decrease of 0.6 percent from last year. In 2008, 21.1 percent of this group were obese.
12. Ages 18-29: 17.5%
So far this year, 17.5 percent of younger adults are obese, a 0.5 decrease from last year. The percentage of obese adults in this age group is about the same as in 2008, when it was 17.4 percent.
13. Asians: 11.5%
Asians have the lowest incidence of obesity among the demographics surveyed by Gallup, but they are also the only demographic to experience an increase in obesity from last year. Obesity increased by 3.3 percent from last year; the percentage of Asian people who were obese in 2008 was 8.6 percent.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.
The first electric vehicle I ever drove was a Tesla Roadster in 2011. It was with great anticipation that I slid behind the wheel of the 2025 Acura ZDX Type S. Sure, it's a midsize SUV, but it wears the Type S moniker, a name reserved only for the most fun-to-drive in the Acura stable. On launch, the ZDX will be available in A-Spec and Type S trims -- both of which come equipped with a 102 kWh battery.
The NFL will allow players to wear protective Guardian Caps during games beginning with the 2024 season. The caps were previously mandated for practices.
