US Obesity Rates Plummet Amid Surge in Weight Loss Medication Use
In a surprising turn of events, the US has witnessed a significant decline in obesity rates, with nearly 8 million fewer adults being considered obese. According to recent data from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, the obesity rate for adults dropped from 40% in 2022 to 37% in 2025.
The culprit behind this trend is no surprise: weight loss medications, specifically GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These blockbuster medications have seen a staggering spike in usage over the past year, with the percentage of Americans using them for weight loss increasing from 5.8% to 12.4%. Women are using these medications at higher rates than men, but overall usage has doubled across both genders.
While the increase in GLP-1 drug use is undoubtedly contributing to the decline in obesity rates, it's worth noting that diabetes rates have not seen a corresponding decrease. In fact, the disease rate reached an all-time high of 13.8% in 2025, with diabetes affecting nearly one in every seven adults.
Experts point to several factors contributing to this paradox, including the complexity of the relationship between obesity and diabetes, as well as the chronic nature of diabetes. Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes by four times, but not everyone who is obese will develop the disease, and some people without obesity are still diagnosed with it.
One notable trend is that women have been using weight loss medications at higher rates than men, which has contributed to the disparity in obesity decline between the sexes. Women's obesity rates dropped more significantly since 2022, with a 3.5-point decrease, compared to a 2.3-point drop for men.
The greatest reductions in obesity were seen among those aged 40-64, who also account for the largest proportion of GLP-1 drug users. This shift is likely due to the effectiveness and accessibility of these medications, as well as increasing awareness about their benefits.
While these findings are encouraging, they also highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing obesity and related health issues. The relationship between weight loss medication use and overall health outcomes is complex, and continued research is necessary to fully understand its implications.
In a surprising turn of events, the US has witnessed a significant decline in obesity rates, with nearly 8 million fewer adults being considered obese. According to recent data from the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, the obesity rate for adults dropped from 40% in 2022 to 37% in 2025.
The culprit behind this trend is no surprise: weight loss medications, specifically GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These blockbuster medications have seen a staggering spike in usage over the past year, with the percentage of Americans using them for weight loss increasing from 5.8% to 12.4%. Women are using these medications at higher rates than men, but overall usage has doubled across both genders.
While the increase in GLP-1 drug use is undoubtedly contributing to the decline in obesity rates, it's worth noting that diabetes rates have not seen a corresponding decrease. In fact, the disease rate reached an all-time high of 13.8% in 2025, with diabetes affecting nearly one in every seven adults.
Experts point to several factors contributing to this paradox, including the complexity of the relationship between obesity and diabetes, as well as the chronic nature of diabetes. Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes by four times, but not everyone who is obese will develop the disease, and some people without obesity are still diagnosed with it.
One notable trend is that women have been using weight loss medications at higher rates than men, which has contributed to the disparity in obesity decline between the sexes. Women's obesity rates dropped more significantly since 2022, with a 3.5-point decrease, compared to a 2.3-point drop for men.
The greatest reductions in obesity were seen among those aged 40-64, who also account for the largest proportion of GLP-1 drug users. This shift is likely due to the effectiveness and accessibility of these medications, as well as increasing awareness about their benefits.
While these findings are encouraging, they also highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing obesity and related health issues. The relationship between weight loss medication use and overall health outcomes is complex, and continued research is necessary to fully understand its implications.