CDC or National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports

Trump Names RFK Jr. as Health Secretary Amid U.S. Obesity Crisis: 260M Americans Could Be Overweight by 2050

Nov 15, 2024, 10:41 AM

A new study published in The Lancet reveals a significant rise in obesity rates in the United States. Currently, nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, with projections indicating that 260 million Americans could be affected by 2050 if current trends continue. The study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive prevention strategies to address this escalating health crisis. The prevalence of obesity is particularly high among children, adolescents, and young adults, with almost half of U.S. teens and young adults aged 15 to 24 being overweight or obese. The distribution of obesity is concentrated in the South and Midwest regions of the country. The findings underscore the wide-reaching implications for the nation's health and medical costs as the burden of weight-related diseases grows. In response, Trump has named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary to tackle the obesity epidemic.