U.S. Adult Obesity Rate Declines as Weight Loss Drug Use Rises
The U.S. adult obesity rate is decreasing, with new survey data indicating a statistically significant drop to 37% in 2025, potentially signaling a shift in the nation’s long-standing struggle with weight management.
Data published today by Gallup revealed the obesity rate among participants has declined from a high of 39.9% in 2022. The results are based on surveys of 16,946 U.S. adults conducted during the first three quarters of 2025. Researchers estimate this decrease represents approximately 7.6 million fewer obese adults compared to three years ago. Obesity is defined using the federal standard of a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
The decline coincides with a substantial increase in the use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are also used to treat type 2 diabetes. Currently, 13.8% of participants in Gallup’s Well-Being Index report being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 usage for weight loss has risen from 5.8% in February 2024 to 12.4% today. The most significant reductions in obesity were observed among adults aged 40 to 49 and 50 to 64 – the same age groups demonstrating the highest rates of GLP-1 injectable use. For more information on understanding BMI, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the report acknowledges potential self-reporting biases, researchers maintain the consistent methodology allows for valuable trend analysis. Despite this positive trend, approximately 40% of U.S. adults are still considered obese, according to September 2024 data, and the U.S. continues to have higher obesity rates than many Western nations. Expanding access to these treatments could be a key factor in sustaining this downward trend, according to the report’s authors. You can learn more about the impact of obesity on public health from the World Health Organization.
Officials will continue to monitor these trends to determine if the decline in obesity rates becomes a lasting shift in public health.
