Roundup: U.S. Obesity Rate Projected to Surge from 40% to 65% by 2050; and More News

Overweight, Obesity Rates Doubled Since 1990, Projected to Climb Further by 2050, Research Finds

Obesity rates in adults, aged 25 or older, and older adolescents, aged 15-24 years, have at least doubled over the past three decades (1990-2021), according to a new study which is considered the most comprehensive analysis of overweight and obesity in the U.S.

Currently, nearly three quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Obesity among U.S. adults is estimated at 40 percent – but is projected to surge to more than 65 percent by 2050.

The study paints a concerning picture of the future, with substantial health, social, and economic consequences expected unless significant reforms are implemented. The prevalence of obesity projected to increase at a more rapid rate than overweight. About one in five children, at least one in three adolescents, and two in three adults are expected to be obese by 2050.

Researchers defined “overweight” adults as those with a body mass index (BMI) at or over 25, and “obese” adults as those with a BMI at or over 30.

The study, derived from extensive public health data that’s part of the Global Burden of Disease Study Collaborator Network, was published in The Lancet. Researchers found that in 2021, more than 208 million adults in the U.S. (aged 25 and older) and more than 43 million children and adolescents (aged 5-24 years) were already living with overweight or obesity. This was the result of a decades-long trend, with the prevalence of obesity doubling in both men and women since 1990.

The numbers are expected to continue climbing at a rapid rate over the next 30 years, with projections indicating that:

• By 2050, 213 million adults in the U.S. will have overweight or obesity, up from 172 million in 2021.
• The number of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity will soar to 43 million, an increase of 6.74 million from 2021.

The implications of these rising obesity rates are significant, as obesity is closely linked to a wide range of serious health conditions. From heart disease and stroke to type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and even mental health disorders, the health consequences of obesity are far-reaching.

What is even more alarming is that these health conditions are beginning to occur at younger ages. Childhood hypertension and type 2 diabetes—once seen primarily in adults—are now becoming more common among children, signaling the severity of the problem.

The findings in this study underscore an urgent call for policy action to address the growing obesity crisis. The authors emphasize that the solution to this epidemic requires population-level prevention and intervention. This includes legislative efforts to:

• Increase access to healthy foods,
• Implement better regulations of the food, agricultural, and marketing sectors, and
• Support public health initiatives aimed at preventing obesity.

“Our analysis lays bare the decades-long failure to tackle the growing overweight and obesity epidemic in the USA,” said lead author Emmanuela Gakidou, professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, in a statement. “The catastrophic consequences of the surge in overweight and obesity among children are already evident in the rising prevalence of childhood hypertension and type 2 diabetes.”

The study’s authors stress that prevention needs to become “a much more dominant focus of obesity control and that any policies aiming to tackle the obesity crisis must be a priority at federal and state governments and backed by high-level political commitment.” Policies should also be comprehensive, reaching individuals across all ages targeting inequalities.

“For example, given that obesity is intergenerational, the authors say that intervention needs to begin with pregnant women and early feeding practices,” states a news release on the study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington.

AI Tool Reveals New Insights Into the Prevalence of Long COVID

A new study using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by Mass General Brigham in Boston has uncovered some surprising new data, suggesting that as many as 22.8 percent of the population could be experiencing long COVID symptoms. This figure is significantly higher than previous estimates, which suggested that less than 10 percent of people who had COVID-19 would develop lingering symptoms.

Long COVID refers to a wide range of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after a person has recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19. These symptoms can vary greatly, but they often include fatigue, difficulty breathing, brain fog, joint pain, and heart palpitations. Many people with Long COVID find that their quality of life is significantly affected, making it a major concern for healthcare professionals.

“Our AI tool could turn a foggy diagnostic process into something sharp and focused, giving clinicians the power to make sense of a challenging condition,” said senior study author Hossein Estiri, Ph.D., head of AI Research at the Center for AI and Biomedical Informatics of the Learning Healthcare System (CAIBILS) at Mass General Brigham and an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, in a statement. “With this work, we may finally be able to see long COVID for what it truly is—and more importantly, how to treat it.”

Diagnosing long COVID can be very challenging, as there is no single test to confirm it. And its symptoms often overlap with other conditions. As a result, many cases may go undiagnosed or unreported, leaving doctors with an incomplete picture of how widespread the condition really is.

The new AI tool developed by Mass General Brigham takes a different approach. Instead of relying solely on patient self-reports or clinical diagnoses, the AI tool analyzes a vast array of data from electronic health records (EHRs) to uncover hidden patterns in symptoms that may point to long COVID.

By scanning through millions of data points, including doctor visits, lab test results, and patient histories, the AI is able to identify cases that may have been overlooked in traditional clinical settings.

The study’s findings suggest that the true impact of Long COVID may be much larger than previously realized, potentially affecting one in five people who have had COVID-19. With this new AI-derived data, healthcare providers may be better equipped to recognize the potential signs of long COVID, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment options.

Study: Lower Your Blood Pressure With Just 5-Minute Exercise Sessions Daily

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects millions worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. But a new study finds that you don’t need to spend hours at the gym or jogging to manage your blood pressure. Just five minutes of exercise a day, including brisk walking or climbing stairs, can make a significant difference.

According to research published in Hypertension, five minutes of light physical activity can lower blood pressure for hours after the workout. The study involved data analysis on 1,500 participants who were asked to perform short bursts of exercise at various intensities. While five minutes is effective, extending exercise up to 20 minutes or longer per session can improve cardiovascular health significantly.

Even the mildest forms of activity, such as brisk walking, were enough to create noticeable improvements in the blood pressure of study participants. These short exercise sessions are not just about burning calories—they also help relax blood vessels, improve circulation, and regulate your body's stress response.

How can five minutes of exercise lead to such results? When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that help dilate your blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more freely. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood through your body without having to work as hard, ultimately leading to a reduction in blood pressure. Even brief periods of movement can activate this process.

Additionally, exercise has long-term benefits for cardiovascular health. Regular physical activity strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and helps maintain a healthy weight—all of which contribute to better blood pressure regulation over time.

While five minutes of exercise can lower your blood pressure in the moment, the real benefits come with consistency. Making this five-minute workout a regular part of your day can significantly improve your cardiovascular health over time.

It’s important to note that while these exercises are effective for managing blood pressure in the short term, they should be combined with other lifestyle changes, like a balanced diet and stress management, for lasting effects.

For substantial health benefits, U.S. guidelines call for adults to get at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging or cycling. Adults should also do some muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity that involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week.