Obesity rate in US dropped between 2020 and 2023

For decades, obesity has been on the rise, but with the new weight loss medications, the US adult obesity rate may have reversed in a short span of time.

Obesity in the country dropped two percentage points between 2020 and 2023, a new US National Health and Nutrition Examination survey revealed.

Health experts suspect increased use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro may have contributed to the dip. These are now taken by one in eight American adults, according to the Financial Times.

The study also found that obesity rates are dropping faster among people with college degrees compared to those with less education. However, severe obesity is more common in women than men.

Nevertheless, it’s a significant drop considering the number of overweight adults has steadily climbed and never dropped since the 1980s.

Analysts are comparing the drop to the early 1960s, when cigarette sales peaked and began to fall, leading to low lung cancer rates in the US.

There is no direct evidence between the rise of weight loss drugs and the drop in obesity. However, according to the Financial Times, the dip is likely due to these drugs.

And Big Pharma is reaping the benefits. Since 2018, Novo Nordisk has made $50 billion in sales of Ozempic and Wegovy, and around 72% of that revenue comes from US sales. Zepbound-maker Eli Lilly is worth $799 billion.

While they are popular, there is skepticism about using drugs for weight loss, as it is shown to decrease muscle mass, unlike healthier options like diet and exercise.

Despite the decline, 40% of adults and 15 million children and teens in the US are still obese, which increases the risk for serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.