The Educated Pharmacist
PTCE

The Obesity Landscape

The Obesity Landscape

Understanding the Obesity Crisis

Why does pharmacist involvement in obesity care matter now more than ever? The statistics tell a clear story. See the numbers behind this growing epidemic, and why pharmacists are essential to turning the tide for obesity management, incretin-based therapy, and supportive patient education.

42.5%

US Adult Obesity Rate1

Over 100 million American adults are living with obesity (BMI ≥ 30)

74%

Adults With Overweight or Obesity2

Nearly 3 in 4 US adults have a BMI of 25 or higher

9.4%

Severe Obesity Prevalence3

Adults with BMI ≥ 40, facing the highest risk of comorbidities

13+

Associated Chronic Conditions4

Including T2D, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers

≥70%

GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 RA Efficacy5-7

Patients achieving ≥5% body weight loss with GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 RA therapy

$173B

Annual Health Care Costs8

Estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States

US Adult BMI Distribution2

US Adults
Normal Weight (26%)
Overweight (32%)
Obese (42%)

References

  1. 1.DeCleene NK et al. JAMA. 2026;335(11):975-985. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.26817
  2. 2.GBD 2021 US Obesity Forecasting Collaborators. Lancet. 2024;404(10469):2278-2298. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01548-4
  3. 3.Emmerich SD et al. NCHS Data Brief. 2024;(508):10.15620/cdc/159281. doi:10.15620/cdc/159281
  4. 4.Yao Z et al. NEJM Evid. 2025;4(4). doi:10.1056/EVIDoa2400229
  5. 5.Wilding JPH et al. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
  6. 6.Jastreboff AM et al. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205-216. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
  7. 7.Wharton S et al. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(18):1796-1806. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2511774
  8. 8.Ward ZJ et al. PloS One. 2021;16(3):e0247307. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247307