Obesity - Women in United States

United States

Obesity is a complex health condition with biological, economic, environmental, individual and societal causes. Contributing factors to obesity include physical environment, genetics, prenatal and early life influences, and health behaviors such as poor diet and physical inactivity.

Adults with obesity are at an increased risk of developing serious health conditions, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and breathing problems, some cancers, and mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. 

In addition, obesity during pregnancy can put a pregnant person at risk of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes and increases the likelihood of miscarriage, stillbirth and infant mortality.

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States is nearly $173 billion, according to a 2021 study. 

While body mass index (BMI) can serve as an easily accessible proxy for population health, it has its limitations. BMI does not distinguish between excess fat and muscle or bone mass, and the relationship between BMI and body fat is influenced by sex, age and ethnicity. Further, it does not capture the complexity of human health. For example, individuals can have a high BMI and good cardiovascular health, while others can have what is categorized as a “healthy” or “normal” BMI and poor cardiovascular health. The American Medical Association adopted a new policy in 2023 addressing the shortcomings of BMI as a clinical health measure and suggesting that BMI be used in conjunction with other valid measures, such as body composition. 

Additionally, weight stigma — also known as weight-based discrimination or weight bias — can have many negative impacts, including mood and anxiety disorders and avoidance of exercise. Weight stigma is pervasive in health care, with reports of medical professionals spending less time with higher-weight patients, engaging in less education and even being reluctant to perform certain procedures on patients with a higher BMI. Weight stigma in the clinical environment can make individuals feel uncomfortable or marginalized, resulting in avoidance of seeking health care.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of obesity is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 compared with women ages 18-24 and 25-34; the prevalence of obesity is higher with each increase in age group.
• Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women compared with Asian women. Obesity was 3.6 times higher among Black (43.8%) compared with Asian (12.3%) women. 
• Women who did not graduate from college compared with college graduates.
• Women with household incomes less than $50,000 compared with women who have higher incomes; the prevalence of obesity is higher with each decrease in income level.
• Women living in nonmetropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
• Women who have difficulty with mobility or self-care compared with women who do not have a disability.
• LGBQ+ women compared with straight women.

Addressing obesity requires a multifaceted approach involving policymakers, state and local governments, health care and childcare professionals, schools, families and individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers state, local and community prevention strategies and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

The Community Preventive Services Task Force has compiled a list of resources for preventing and managing obesity. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps also lists several strategies for increasing physical activity and reducing obesity rates. These include neighborhood environment changes to improve walkability and access to other physical activity opportunities, and obesity prevention interventions that coordinate treatments such as nutrition education, exercise sessions, and training in behavioral techniques. 

To promote healthy weight in pregnancy, the CDC recommends weight tracking. The Nutrition Source provides more general information and measurable targets for eating healthy, getting enough sleep and physical activity, limiting screen time and reducing stress, all of which influence weight gain and weight management.

Healthy People 2030 has several objectives related to weight and obesity, including reducing the proportion of adults with obesity and increasing the proportion of women who had a healthy weight before pregnancy.

Ely, Danielle M., Elizabeth C. W. Gregory, and Patrick Drake. “Infant Mortality by Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index: United States, 2017-2018.” National Vital Statistics Reports: From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System 69, no. 9 (August 2020): 1–11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33054916/.

Gutin, Iliya. “In BMI We Trust: Reframing the Body Mass Index as a Measure of Health.” Social Theory & Health 16, no. 3 (August 2018): 256–71. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0.

Tomiyama, A. Janet, Deborah Carr, Ellen M. Granberg, Brenda Major, Eric Robinson, Angelina R. Sutin, and Alexandra Brewis. “How and Why Weight Stigma Drives the Obesity ‘Epidemic’ and Harms Health.” BMC Medicine 16, no. 1 (December 2018): 123. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5.

Tomiyama, A. Janet, J. M. Hunger, J. Nguyen-Cuu, and C. Wells. “Misclassification of Cardiometabolic Health When Using Body Mass Index Categories in NHANES 2005–2012.” International Journal of Obesity 40, no. 5 (May 2016): 883–86. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.17.

Ward, Zachary J., Sara N. Bleich, Michael W. Long, and Steven L. Gortmaker. “Association of Body Mass Index with Health Care Expenditures in the United States by Age and Sex.” Edited by Robert Siegel. PLOS ONE 16, no. 3 (March 24, 2021): e0247307.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247307.