U.S. Adult Obesity Rates Drop For First Time In A Decade

Adult obesity rates in the U.S. decreased between 2022 and 2023, representing the first decrease in the country since at least 2013. The average body mass index (BMI) increased steadily from 29.65 in 2013 to 30.24 by 2022. The average BMI in 2023 was 30.21.

In 2023, about 45.6% of the population had a BMI of 30 or higher, which is the benchmark for obesity. Obesity prevalence decreased in the South, among adults aged 66 to 75, and among women.

The trend was noted in an analysis of a decade of outpatient visit data collected . . .