Roundup: U.S. Obesity Rates Climb to 40% of Adults, 20% of Youth; and More News

New Study: U.S. Obesity Rates Continue to Rise, Affecting 40% of Adults and 20% of Kids, Teens

Obesity continues to become more common in the United States, with new research showing that approximately 40 percent of adults and 20 percent of children and teens were living with obesity in 2023.

The study, published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, analyzed national health data collected between 1999 and 2023. Researchers found that obesity rates have increased substantially over the past 24 years, highlighting a growing public health challenge linked to heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Obesity is generally defined using body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on a person's height and weight. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obesity. While BMI does not directly measure body fat, it is commonly used as a screening tool to assess weight-related health risks.

“We must increase the availability and use of individual and population-level initiatives to target the rising epidemic of obesity and support people with obesity,” said study author Anum Minhas, M.D., M.H.S., an assistant professor of medicine in cardiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, in a news release. “This includes pursuing a better understanding of which patients could benefit most from weight-loss medications or other treatments. There are several effective weight loss therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, bariatric surgery and other treatment options …”

Severe and Abdominal Obesity Also Rose

Researchers found that obesity among U.S. adults increased from 30 percent in 1999 to 41 percent in 2023. During the same period, severe obesity—defined as a BMI of 40 or higher—doubled from 5 percent to 10 percent.

The study also documented a sharp increase in abdominal obesity, which refers to excess fat around the waist. Waist size is an important health measurement because excess abdominal fat has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. Among adults, abdominal obesity rose from 48 percent to 61 percent.

The trend extended to younger Americans as well. Compared with 1999, obesity among children and adolescents increased by about 30 percent by 2023. Severe obesity increased by roughly 50 percent, while abdominal obesity nearly tripled.

Certain Groups Face Higher Rates

The researchers also identified important differences among population groups.

Women were more likely than men to have severe obesity and abdominal obesity. By 2023, about 13 percent of women had severe obesity compared with 7 percent of men, while abdominal obesity affected 70 percent of women and 51 percent of men.

The analysis also found that non-Hispanic Black adults consistently had the highest prevalence of obesity throughout the study period.

Researchers noted that hormonal changes throughout a woman's lifetime may contribute to some of the differences observed, although many social, environmental and biological factors likely play a role.

Why Obesity Matters for Heart Health

Obesity is a major risk factor for several serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. Excess body weight can also increase the risk of premature death.

The American Heart Association recently identified obesity as the earliest stage of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, a group of interconnected conditions affecting the heart, kidneys and metabolism. Managing weight through healthy eating, regular physical activity and other evidence-based treatments is considered an important strategy for reducing long-term health risks.

Researchers recommend that health care professionals routinely measure both BMI and waist circumference, since each provides valuable information about obesity-related health risks.

They also note that treatment options have expanded in recent years. For some people, lifestyle changes remain the foundation of care, while others may benefit from FDA-approved weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, or bariatric surgery, depending on their individual health needs.

The study does have limitations. BMI does not distinguish between fat and muscle, and declining participation in the national survey over time may have influenced the findings. Even so, the results point to a continuing rise in obesity and underscore the importance of prevention, early intervention and access to effective treatment.

GLP-1 Medications May Offer Added Benefits for People With Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Artery Disease, Study Finds

Medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), already widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, may also improve outcomes for people living with peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study found that people with both type 2 diabetes and PAD who took GLP-1 medications experienced fewer deaths, hospitalizations and amputations than similar patients treated with metformin alone, the most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes.

Researchers say the greatest benefits were seen among people with more advanced PAD and those with obesity.

Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease occurs when fatty deposits build up inside arteries that supply blood to the legs. The narrowed arteries reduce blood flow, which can lead to leg pain while walking, slow-healing wounds and, in severe cases, tissue damage that may require amputation.

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing PAD because high blood sugar can damage blood vessels over time.

"Because GLP-1 RAs show significant benefits, especially for high-risk patients with severe circulation problems in their legs, clinicians should consider prescribing GLP-1s because peripheral artery disease, also known as PAD, has limited treatment options," said lead study author Aravinda Nanjundappa, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic. "Our findings indicate these medications may improve long-term health for people with PAD, in addition to managing blood sugar and weight loss."

Significant Improvements Compared With Metformin

Researchers analyzed electronic health records from more than 2,000 adults with both type 2 diabetes and PAD. They compared patients taking GLP-1 medications with similar patients who were treated with metformin.

Compared with metformin users, patients taking GLP-1 medications experienced:

• A 26 percent lower risk of death from any cause.
• A 13 percent reduction in hospitalizations.
• Up to a 48 percent lower risk of amputation.
• About a 36 percent reduction in procedures needed to restore blood flow in blocked leg arteries.

However, the study found no significant difference between the two groups in rates of heart attack, stroke or serious kidney complications.

Benefits Strongest in Higher-Risk Patients

The greatest improvements were seen among patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, the most severe form of PAD. This condition occurs when blood flow to the legs becomes so limited that patients develop persistent pain, non-healing wounds or tissue death.

People with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, also appeared to benefit more from GLP-1 therapy.

Study coauthor Akiva Rosenzveig, M.D., explained that obesity and advanced PAD share several harmful biological processes, including chronic inflammation, poor blood vessel function, insulin resistance and accelerated hardening of the arteries.

"These results indicate GLP1-RAs can help reduce inflammation, improve blood vessel function and manage blood sugar levels," he said.

More Research Is Still Needed

The study used the TriNetX research network, a large database of electronic health records collected from healthcare organizations between 2010 and 2025. Researchers matched patients with similar medical characteristics to make the comparison between treatment groups as balanced as possible.

Because the research was observational, it cannot prove that GLP-1 medications directly caused the improved outcomes. Electronic health records may also contain incomplete or inaccurate information that could affect results.

In a news release, Joshua J. Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., an American Heart Association volunteer expert who was not involved in the research, said the findings are encouraging but should be confirmed in future clinical trials.

"GLP1-RA medications may help people with PAD and type 2 diabetes live longer," Dr. Joseph said. "They might also help people reduce the risk of amputation and the number and length of hospitalizations. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms."

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 29.5 million U.S. adults have type 2 diabetes, while an estimated 12.5 million Americans age 40 and older live with PAD. The new findings suggest that GLP-1 medications may eventually play a larger role in caring for patients affected by both conditions, though additional studies will be needed before treatment recommendations change.

Long-Term PTSD May Speed Up Aging and Raise Risk for Chronic Disease, Study Finds

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is widely recognized as a mental health condition, but new research suggests its effects may extend far beyond the brain. A study published in Nature Communications found that World Trade Center (WTC) responders with PTSD showed biological changes associated with faster aging and a greater risk of chronic disease.

The findings help explain why people living with PTSD often face higher rates of heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and cognitive decline years after experiencing traumatic events.

Researchers from Stony Brook University and Duke University analyzed blood samples from 393 World Trade Center responders nearly 18 years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Of the participants, 232 had been diagnosed with PTSD, while 161 had experienced the trauma but did not develop the condition.

Blood Tests Revealed Widespread Biological Changes

The research team used two advanced laboratory techniques to examine the participants' blood.

One, called proteomics, measures proteins—the molecules that carry out most of the body's functions. The other, known as metabolomics, analyzes small molecules called metabolites, which reflect how cells use energy and perform essential chemical processes.

Together, these tests provide a detailed picture of how the body's systems are functioning.

The researchers identified 114 proteins and seven metabolites that differed between responders with PTSD and those without the condition. These changes involved several important biological systems, including the immune system, metabolism, nerve cell function and the body's ability to manage oxidative stress, a process in which unstable molecules can damage cells over time.

Signs of Accelerated Aging

One of the study's most significant findings was evidence of accelerated biological aging among participants with PTSD.

Unlike chronological age—the number of years a person has lived—biological aging refers to how quickly the body's cells and organs are aging based on measurable biological changes.

The researchers found signs of faster aging in multiple organs, particularly the pancreas and lungs. Faster pancreatic aging may indicate that long-term exposure to severe psychological trauma could contribute to earlier declines in pancreatic function, potentially increasing the risk of metabolic disorders over time.

Trauma Affects ‘Multiple Biological Systems’ Over Several Years

The team also estimated biological aging in the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs. Previous research has shown that accelerated aging in these organs is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and other chronic health conditions.

In a news release, senior study author Benjamin J. Luft, M.D., said the findings reinforce that PTSD affects the entire body, not just emotional well-being.

"What we have observed through detailed metabolic analyses is that trauma affects not only psychological health, but also multiple biological systems over many years," Dr. Luft said. He added that these biological changes may help explain why PTSD is linked to higher rates of heart disease, lung disease, cognitive problems and other chronic illnesses that can contribute to faster aging.

Treating Both Mental and Physical Health

Dr. Luft also emphasized the importance of treating both the mental and physical health needs of people living with PTSD, even decades after the original trauma.

The researchers say combining proteomic and metabolomic analyses allowed them to identify interconnected biological changes that might not have been detected using either approach alone. They believe the study is one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of the biological effects of PTSD and may help guide future research into biomarkers—measurable biological indicators—that could improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

While the findings do not prove that PTSD directly causes chronic disease or accelerated aging, they provide new evidence that the condition has lasting effects throughout the body. The researchers hope the work will encourage more integrated care that addresses both the psychological and physical health of people living with PTSD.