The obesity rate is falling as Americans increasingly turn to weight-loss drugs

US Obesity Rates Plummet Amid Surge in Weight-Loss Medications

A new study by Gallup has revealed that the United States has seen an alarming decline in obesity rates, falling from nearly 40% in 2022 to 37% last year. The remarkable drop is attributed largely to a rise in the use of prescription weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) injectables such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

According to Gallup's National Health and Well-Being Index survey, which polled nearly 17,000 adults across the country, the percentage of Americans using these blockbuster medications for weight loss has surged from 5.8% in February last year to a staggering 12.4% today. The resulting decline in obesity rates translates into around 8 million fewer obese adults nationwide.

However, this trend is offset by an alarming rise in diabetes rates, which have hit an all-time high of 13.8% in the same period, up from 13.4% last year and 12.8% two years ago. The disparity between declining obesity and unchanged diabetes rates suggests that several factors are at play.

While it is true that obesity increases one's risk of developing type 2 diabetes fourfold, not everyone who is obese will contract the condition, and some non-obese individuals may be diagnosed with diabetes as well. Moreover, diabetes is a chronic illness, which means that short-term reductions in obesity rates won't necessarily translate to decreased rates of diabetes.

Demographically, the survey also revealed striking differences in weight-loss medication use between men and women, as well as across age groups. While both genders have seen their usage rates double over the past year, women are using these medications at higher rates than men. The most significant reductions in obesity were observed among people aged 40-64, a demographic that also exhibits the highest rate of GLP-1 drug use.

Overall, these findings suggest that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented shift towards weight-loss medication adoption, which may have both positive and concerning implications for public health.

I gotta say, this whole obesity thing has gotten super complicated . One day we're seeing rates plummet and the next they're up again with diabetes on the rise. It's like, what's going on? I mean, I'm all for people taking control of their health and using meds to help them lose weight, but 12.4% of Americans are now using these GLP-1 injectables? That's wild .

And have you noticed how the rates are affecting different demographics differently? It's like, women and 40-64 year olds are taking these meds at a higher rate than men and younger folks . I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on .

I also wonder if we're over-relying on medication for weight loss. Like, what about lifestyle changes? Exercise, diet, all that jazz? Are we just treating the symptoms instead of getting to the root cause of the problem?

Anyway, I guess this just goes to show how complex public health is . We need more research and discussion on this topic before we can say for sure what's going on here

can u believe this?? obesity rates are FLYING outta control in the US... but at the same time diabetes rates are thru the roof what's good?! it's like we're just treating symptoms instead of addressing the real issue. and btw, who's behind this sudden surge in weight loss meds? Big pharma? pharmaceutical companies r rolling in dough from these GLP-1 injectables like, let's get to the root cause here... not just a quick fix

obvioulsy, the fact that more people are taking meds to lose weight instead of just being lazy is super reassuring like, who doesn't love a good excuse to justify overeating? anyway, i'm not gonna sit here and pretend like this isn't concerning... diabetes rates are through the roof and we're still dealing with the underlying issues. it's like, yeah, congrats on losing weight, but what about your pancreas?

I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT OBESITY RATES ARE DOWN AND PEOPLE ARE FINALLY GETTING HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT!!! BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE RISE IN DIABETES RATES - 13.8% IS CRAZY HIGH!!! WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT? ARE PEOPLE TAKING THESE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS AND NOT THINKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON THEIR HEALTH?

idk about this... seems like people are just turning to meds instead of making lifestyle changes . 12.4% of adults on glp-1 drugs? that's a big jump. what's driving ppl to take up these meds in the first place? is it just because they're easy to get, or is there something else at play? and yeah, diabetes rates are rising... not sure if its related to the weight loss meds or not . need more info on this before i start jumping to conclusions

Can you believe those numbers? 40% to 37% in just one year?! I mean, I'm all for people taking care of themselves, but is this really the answer? I know some people are struggling with their weight and it's great that meds like Ozempic and Wegovy are helping. But what about the flip side? Diabetes rates are through the roof! 13.8%?! That's insane! And now we're seeing an increase in diabetes among non-obese people too... this is getting out of hand! What's going on with our healthcare system?! Is it really that easy to just pop some meds and solve the problem? I need more answers than just "hey, let's prescribe more meds"

omg u wont bliev this! obesities in US has dropped by 3% thats like 8 million ppl less! but theres a catch its not just obesity thats gone down theres also a spike in diabetes now i no some ppl might b thinkin "ok cool more meds r good" but theres more 2 it than that. like diabetes is chronic so dont think this means everythin will magically get better 2moro

gotta think about this one... seems like usin' meds 2 lose weight might not be as simple as just takin a pill ... we gotta consider other factors like diet & exercise too ... can't just rely on meds, gotta find balance

So this is what happens when governments start handing out free stuff... err, I mean, when there's increased accessibility of weight loss meds! It's like the old adage goes: "you can't take it with you, but you can get a sweet deal on some Ozempic" . But seriously, what does this say about our healthcare system? Are we treating the symptoms or the problem itself? And let's not forget the elephant in the room - insurance companies making a killing off these new meds . This whole thing is a perfect example of how policy can influence public health outcomes... for better or worse!

gotcha feeling kinda guilty about using all them weight loss meds just 'cause obesity rates are droppin but at the same time kinda relieved that I don't gotta worry about gettin' diabetes now anyways, this is wild, 12.4% of people in the US are usin' these meds, that's like a whole lotta needles stickin' in arms

I'm reading about this crazy trend where US obesity rates are plummeting because people are taking weight loss meds like Ozempic! On one hand, it's amazing to see so many people taking control of their health - 12.4% of adults now use these meds? That's a huge jump! But on the other hand, diabetes rates are through the roof... 13.8% is insane! Maybe we're not looking at the bigger picture here? I mean, just because obesity is going down doesn't mean diabetes isn't still a major issue. And what about all the side effects of these meds? We need to make sure we're not trading one health problem for another...

Wow , this is so interesting! Obesity rates plummeting while diabetes rates are on the rise? That's a weird combo . I'm curious to know more about what's behind this shift - are these weight-loss meds really making a difference? And is it just a matter of people being more aware of their health and taking action, or is there something else going on?

I mean, can you even believe it? The US obesity rates are literally plummeting like they're on a treadmill and nobody's talking about the elephant in the room - diabetes! 13.8% is straight-up crazy I get that obesity increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, but come on, what's going on here? Are these weight loss meds just a Band-Aid solution for a much bigger problem? And don't even get me started on how the rates differ by gender and age... it's like they're playing with fire without considering the consequences. I'm all for people wanting to lose weight, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here

It's crazy how quick people are to rely on meds to lose weight... I mean, I get it, they're convenient and all, but what about the underlying issues that led to obesity in the first place? Like, let's talk about food systems, societal pressures, and individual habits. We can't just magic away our problems with a prescription

And, btw, those 8 million fewer obese adults is a big deal, but how many of them are actually experiencing long-term weight loss vs. just short-term fixes? Not to mention the diabetes stats - we're basically trading one health concern for another .

OMG, like seriously? US obesity rates are plummeting?! 37% now?! That's insane! I think it's totally cool that people are using these new meds to help with weight loss! GLP-1 injectables are literally game changers! But at the same time, it's kinda scary that diabetes rates are shooting up too... Like, we gotta be careful what we're wishing for, right? And btw, why do women use these meds more than men?! Is it cuz they just get it more or what?! Also, I'm low-key glad that the obesity rates dropped for people aged 40-64... they were prob the ones who needed it most! Let's just hope this trend keeps going and we can all live healthier lives!

omg you guys like this is wild news i mean who would've thought usas obesity rates are actually gonna go down? its all about these new weight loss meds tho glp-1 injectables r the real deal apparently 12% of ppl in america are using them and it's had a huge impact on obesity rates. but at the same time theres this weird disparity between obesity and diabetes rates...like whats going on there? [link to Gallup survey](https://www.gallup.com)