Oct 24, 2025 - News
Illinois' obesity rate keeps growing
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Illinois' percentage of obese adults rose from 32% to 34% between 2019 and 2024, according to a new analysis of federal data.
Why it matters: Obesity is tied to health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and COVID-19 complications for individuals, as well as higher public health costs for states.
The big picture: Despite our local increases, the number of states with adult obesity rates at or above 35% dropped to 19 in 2024 compared to 23 in 2023.
- Still, that number was just three in 2014.
Stunning stat: No state had an obesity rate under 25% for the first time since 2011, when the data began.