Trends and Treatments
The experiences a slight decrease in adult obesity rates, from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023, marking the first decline in over ten years.
The rise in the use of agonists, like semaglutide found in Ozempic and , is noted as a possible contributing factor to this decline, with a 700% increase in usage for weight loss from 2019 to 2023.
Influences and Insights
Researchers suggest that lifestyle changes post-pandemic and the significant increase in weight loss drug prescriptions, particularly in the South, may have influenced the obesity trend.
Despite the positive signs, experts caution that it's premature to conclude a persistent downward trend in obesity rates, emphasizing the need for further long-term studies to assess the impact of weight loss medications and other contributing factors.