Obesity in America: Contributing Factors and Changing Perceptions.

A new analysis from NORC at the University of Chicago shows that more than 4 in 10 U.S. adults are obese, with states in the South and Midwest showing some of the highest prevalence. Obesity is associated with preventable, premature death, and disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic Americans. Doctors are prescribing a new class of weight-loss drugs in record numbers despite questions about their long-term effects and a hefty price tag. Obesity rates are determined in part by using Body Mass Index ranges, which have been called into question for correlating weight and health too closely.