Excess unhealthy weight is a risk factor for serious chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer. A new study reveals trends in obesity among people who are Black, White, and Hispanic. The projected trend for the next ten years, through 2035, does not look good for any of these groups.
In 1990, a little less than 20% of American adults had a BMI of 30 or more, which is the standard, although imperfect, measure of obesity. By 2022, that percentage had risen to 45%. Obesity in the U.S. had more than doubled in 22 years.
While all the groups analyzed fared poorly, the levels of obesity among groups ranged from 40% in males who were either White or Black to 60% in females who were Black. Hispanics of both sexes had the biggest jumps in obesity from 1990: 25% increases in both males and females, with 2022 levels of almost 50% in females and 43% in males.
Obesity is highest in people who are
