Women in the U.S. get fatter faster than men at an alarming rate, a new obesity study has revealed this week. For about three decades, both American men and women have been growing fat at the same rate. For the first time, women are now leading the obesity rates, and researchers are still figuring out for the reasons for the findings.
The study, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMLA) showed that 4 out of 10 American women are now obese. The surge in obesity rate has grown in the recent years with 40 percent of women compared to 35 percent men are now considered obese.
The records were based on the latest government statistics between 2013 and 2014. The researchers were surprised by the findings of the new obesity study because the rate reached 40 percent in women. Despite the speculation on the increases, the data did not reveal the exact causes of the prevalence rate.
"For the years 2013-2014, the unadjusted prevalence of obesity was 35.2% among men and 40.5% among women," the researchers said in the research.
The new obesity study concluded that women who finished high school were less likely to be obese. Men who smoke were more likely to be obese. Another study done by the researchers showed the prevalence of obesity was 17 percent among teenagers in the same years.
It was also noted that young group of Americans ages 2 to 5 have shown a decreasing rate of obesity while children ages 6 to 10 have a steady rate over the past 25 years. However, an increasing trend was observed among adolescents between 12 to 19 years of age.
As per the records of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37.9 percent adults with age 20 years and above were classified obese in 2013 to 2014. With one-third of the total adult population in the U.S. were labeled obese.
In a statement obtained by Washington Post, JAMA editors Jody W. Zylke and Howard Bauchner said that even lots of studies were being done to combat obesity through drugs and procedures, the problem would not be solved.
"The emphasis has to be on prevention, despite evidence that school- and community-based prevention programs and education campaigns by local governments and professional societies have not been highly successful," they said.
Check out the video below showing the rising obesity trends among women in the U.S.