Fewer U.S. states top 35% obesity rate — but Ohio is still one of them
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The number of U.S. states with adult obesity rates at or above 35% dropped slightly in 2024 compared to the year prior, but Ohio remains on the wrong side of that benchmark.
Why it matters: Obesity is tied to several health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, COVID-19 complications and more.
- Studies have also linked obesity to hundreds of billions of dollars in increased annual medical costs.
By the numbers: Ohio had a 36.9% obesity rate in 2024, according to a new "State of Obesity" report from the nonprofit and nonpartisan Trust for America's Health (TFAH).
- That's up from 34.8% in 2019.
State of play: Ohio is one of 19 states to have adult obesity rates at or above 35%.
- That's a drop from 23 states the year before — and the first decrease since states began hitting the 35% mark in 2013, the group says.
Yes, but: Back in 2014, only three states had obesity rates at or above 35%.
Between the lines: Obesity is tied to certain socioeconomic factors.
- Black and Hispanic Americans have higher rates compared to other groups, for example, and obesity is more prevalent in low-income households compared to high-income households.
The big picture: The nationwide obesity rate is stalling or even declining, per separate data, possibly thanks to new anti-obesity drugs.
- The success of those drugs is fueling calls to change how we talk about weight, Axios' Tina Reed reports.
What they're saying: The Trump administration has centered personal health under the "Make America Healthy Again" banner.
- Yet financial and staffing cuts have been made to agencies and programs that work on obesity, chronic disease and related issues, TFAH's report points out.
Zoom in: Earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services launched its own weight management program for state employees.
- The program includes access to a health coach, nutrition resources and partial reimbursement for FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for eligible individuals.