Hawaiʻi Health Data Warehouse

State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America

The State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America is an annual report by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) that looks at key obesity statistics and trends in the United States. TFAH is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works on various health issues and advocates for prevention and health equity. This year’s edition of The State of Obesity includes a special feature that examines food consumption changes and the larger food environment in the US.

A fact sheet specific to Hawaiʻi is available. 

Key takeaways from the report include:

  • Nationally, the adult obesity rate passed 40% in 2017-2020, which is the most recent data available (pg. 21
  • In the past 20 years, adult obesity rates have increased by 37% (pg. 6)
  • 23 states had adult obesity rates over 35% in 2023, yet in 2012, no state had an obesity rate over 35% (pg. 22)*
  • Nearly 20% of children and adolescents (age 2-19 years old) were obese in 2017-2020, a rate more than triple what it was in the 1970’s (pg. 29)
  • Hawaiʻi had one of the lowest state obesity rates (26.1%) in the country for 2023 (pg. 26)* 

TFAH recommends the following policies: 

  1. Dedication of federal resources to efforts that reduce obesity
  2. Decrease food and nutrition insecurity while improving nutritional quality of available foods
  3. Change marketing and pricing strategies of unhealthy foods and beverages
  4. Make physical activity and the built environment safer
  5. Work with the healthcare system to close disparities

* Note: State level rates of obesity are lower than national obesity rates due to differences in data sources used (pg. 23)

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