Copyright Newsweek
Diagnoses of diabetes have reached an all-time high despite a “statistically meaningful decrease” in the U.S. adult obesity rate, Gallup reported. The diabetes rate is now at 13.8 percent, the highest number recorded by the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index. The adult obesity rate declined to 37 percent this year, representing an estimated 7.6 million fewer obese adults compared with three years ago. Why It Matters Obesity corresponds with a higher rate of having diabetes across all age groups, according to Gallup. However, not all individuals who are obese will develop diabetes, and some individuals who are not obese will develop diabetes. Other factors that could increase the risk of developing the disease include physical inactivity, race, ethnicity and genetic predisposition, according to Gallup. What To Know Gallup said the results were based on combined data from three nationally representative surveys of 16,946 U.S. adults interviewed online in the first three quarters of 2025. Gallup calculates obesity using the federal standard of having a BMI of 30 or higher. The diabetes rate includes individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The rate of U.S. adults who use Type 2 antidiabetic GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has increased, Gallup said. The percentage of adults who take this class of medicine rose to 12.4 percent this year. This class of drugs includes semaglutide, which has brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The rate in February 2024, when Gallup first measured it, was 5.8 percent. Adults aged 40 to 49 and 50 to 64 saw the biggest reduction in obesity, which are also the age groups with the highest rates of Type 2 antidiabetic GLP-1 drugs usage for weight loss. Gallup said obesity rates still remain high. In 2008, the obesity rate among U.S. adults was recorded at 25.5 percent, much lower than today's 37 percent. Additionally, U.S. obesity rates continue to exceed many other Western countries, as shown in this map put together by Newsweek in 2024. What People Are Saying Gallup, on X: “After peaking at a record high of 39.9% in 2022, the U.S. adult obesity rate has gradually declined to 37.0% in 2025. This is a statistically meaningful decrease representing an estimated 7.6 million fewer obese adults compared with three years ago.” World Health Organization, on its website: "About 830 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries. More than half of people living with diabetes are not receiving treatment. Both the number of people with diabetes and the number of people with untreated diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past decades."
