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In Good Health: Weight Loss Drugs And The Falling Obesity Rate : 1A For the first time in decades, obesity rates in the U.S. are not on the rise.

The adult obesity rate fell to about 40 percent in 2023, down from 41.9 percent in 2020, according to the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the CDC.

While the study doesn't pinpoint one sole reason for the change, the timing coincides with the rise of a new class of drugs targeting diabetes and weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy.

As part of our series In Good Health, we discuss these new medications and the falling rate of obesity.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

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In Good Health: Weight Loss Drugs And The Falling Obesity Rate

In Good Health: Weight Loss Drugs And The Falling Obesity Rate

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This picture shows Ozempic medication boxes, an injectable antidiabetic drug, in a pharmacy. SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images

This picture shows Ozempic medication boxes, an injectable antidiabetic drug, in a pharmacy.

SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images

For the first time in decades, obesity rates in the U.S. are not on the rise.

The adult obesity rate fell to about 40 percent in 2023, down from 41.9 percent in 2020, according to the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the CDC.

While the study doesn't pinpoint one sole reason for the change, the timing coincides with the rise of a new class of drugs targeting diabetes and weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy.

As part of our series In Good Health, we discuss these new medications and the falling rate of obesity.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.