Obesity Trends on the Rise in the U.S.

Obesity rates continue to rise in the United States, according to a report published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers examined data from 5,455 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 through 2014. Obesity rates at the end of 2014 placed 35 percent of male participants and 40 percent of female participants as obese. Results showed a particular increase among women in both overall obesity and more severe obesity.

An accompanying editorial to this report mentions the vilification of sugary beverages, a product that has actually seen a decline in consumption since 1999. High-fat products such as meat and dairy are more likely candidates to the rising obesity rates. Research shows that plant-based diets promote weight loss and making them an important intervention to consider.