The Obesity Rate in America Is No Longer Growing—But Women Are Still Nearly Twice As Likely to Be Severely Obese

(Severe obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 or higher.)

So, what exactly does this mean for womens health?

First of all, what is obesity?

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But public health experts have long criticized BMI as a flawed measure of health.

Are 75% of Americansreallyoverweight?

How has the obesity rate in America changed over the past decade?

Some evidence suggests theobesityrate might be falling.

What factors contribute to the high obesity rate in America?

Theyve been lectured repeatedly about their weight and theyre worried they wont get good care.

Take ultra-processed foods, for example, which now make up an estimated70% of the American diet.

But research shows these relationships to be complex and bidirectional.

Then theres the role of social stigma.

We call that weight cycling.

Then theres thefitness gender gap.

Women are juggling so much; theyre often working and taking care of others, says Bar.