U.S. Obesity Rates Show First Decline in a Decade — But Progress May Be Fragile

U.S. Obesity Rates Show First Decline in a Decade — But Progress May Be Fragile

For the first time in more than a decade, the number of states with adult obesity rates of 35% or higher has dropped — an encouraging sign that America’s struggle with excess weight might finally be improving. According to the 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data analyzed by the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), 19 states had obesity rates of 35% or higher in 2024, down from 23 states the year before. That’s a modest b…