Alarming Rise in Obesity Rates: A Growing Concern for American Adults
A recent study published in JAMA by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle has revealed a disturbing trend: nearly half of all American adults, approximately 126 million individuals, are projected to be living with obesity by 2035. The study, which drew on data from over 11 million participants through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, as well as the independent Gallup Daily Survey, paints a stark picture of the escalating obesity crisis in the United States.
Disparities in Obesity Rates Across States, Ages, and Racial and Ethnic Groups
The study highlights significant disparities in obesity rates across different states, ages, and racial and ethnic groups. While every state is expected to see increases in obesity rates, the sharpest rises are projected for Midwestern and Southern states. For instance, by 2035, the study projects that 60% (11.5 million adults) of Black women and 54% (14.5 million) of Latino women will suffer from obesity, compared to 47% (36.5 million) of white women. Similarly, 48% (13.2 million) of Latino men will suffer from the disease, compared to 45% (34.4 million) of white men and 43% (7.61 million) of Black men.
California’s Obesity Trends: A Reflection of Systemic Inequalities
In California, the study projects that obesity rates among Latino and Black women will reach nearly 60% by 2035, compared to nearly 40% for their white counterparts. Additionally, Latino men in California could see rates over 50%, compared to nearly 40% for their white counterparts. According to Dr. Amanda Velazquez, director of obesity medicine at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, these numbers are not surprising, given the systemic inequalities that exist in many California cities. “There are challenges for access to nutritious foods, depending on where you’re at in the city,” Velazquez said. “There’s also disparities in the access to healthcare, especially to treatment for obesity.”
Addressing the Root Causes of Obesity: A Call to Action
Despite these disparities, California is projected to fare better than most other states, with its rates of obesity growing more slowly than the national average. According to Arpana Church, the principal Investigator of the Church Lab at UCLA Health, measures such as SB 12 and SB 677, passed in the mid-2000s, which set strict nutritional standards for schools, existing menu labeling laws at both the state and federal levels requiring restaurants to provide nutritional facts on menu items, and cities like Berkeley and Oakland imposing local soda taxes, have been key in keeping obesity at bay. To keep up this momentum, both doctors stressed that California must continue to strengthen school nutrition standards, expand transportation infrastructure that encourages walking instead of driving, maintain and expand economic disincentives to unhealthy foods, such as beverage taxes, and address food deserts by incentivizing new grocery stores and farmers’ markets in underserved neighborhoods.
A Future Focus on Equity: Prioritizing the Most Affected Populations
Future efforts, Church says, should prioritize the Black and Latino populations identified by the study as most affected. By addressing the systemic inequalities and disparities that contribute to obesity, California can work towards a healthier, more equitable future for all its residents. For more information on the study and its findings, visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
