UNICEF: There are now more obese children than underweight
According to a major study by UNICEF, approximately one in 10 children between the ages of 5 and 19 are thought to be affected by obesity.
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Adult obesity rates in the United States have increased over the past 30 years and are expected to increase even more over the next decade, according to a new study.
In the study, published Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the journal JAMA, researchers found that 19.3% of U.S. adults were obese in 1990, but this increased to 42.5% by 2022. Researchers also predict that number will increase to 46.9% by 2035.
This study analyzed data from a total of 11,315,421 U.S. participants using two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys.
Ashley Koff, a registered dietitian who was not involved in the study, told USA TODAY that it’s not surprising that these numbers have increased due to a variety of factors.
But she also said the study’s use of BMI, a measurement based on height and weight, to define obesity was problematic. Other health experts have criticized the method as outdated.
“These numbers really don’t tell us anything about the amount of money people invest in losing weight to optimize their personal health, mental health, frustration, and overall well-being,” she says.
The authors note this limitation, saying that the BMI designation “does not directly measure body fat or describe body composition,” adding that these errors “may vary by demographic group.” Other limitations include sparse data and self-reported health information in some locations.
There were large differences in the prevalence of obesity across age, gender, and racial and ethnic groups.
For example, the largest increases were among Hispanic women and men, and the smallest increases were among non-Hispanic black men.
In 2022, non-Hispanic black women had the highest obesity rate at 56.9%, while Hispanic men, non-Hispanic white men and women, and non-Hispanic black men had similar obesity rates ranging from 40.1% to 42.6%.
Results also show that obesity has increased in younger age groups over the past few decades, representing an earlier onset of obesity.
Obesity levels also varied by state. In 2022, numbers of white men and women were similar, and prevalence was lowest in the District of Columbia and highest in West Virginia. The case for the Hispanic population was different, with obesity rates generally highest in the Midwest and South, specifically Oklahoma for women and Indiana for men.
The authors note that these disparities are likely the result of several factors, including race-based discrimination, food insecurity, and differences in access to healthy food and space for physical activity.
“Lack of physical activity and diet do not exist in isolation, often reflect deep socio-economic disparities, and are just some of the many causes of obesity that policy interventions can target to blunt obesity’s worrying trajectory,” the authors write.
Koff added that while it’s great that people are starting to talk more about nutrition, access to support is limited.
“You need access to people who can help you prevent this problem by personalizing your plan and helping you implement it. A qualified nutritionist or coach will do that,” she said. “Currently, this treatment is not available through insurance or for most people, even if they have been diagnosed with obesity or diabetes.”
