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* Guam adult obesity rate over 35% for the first time in the latest CDC data4
http://www.hsvg.org/ Guahan Global Foundation
Guahan Global Foundation P.O. Box 206, Hagatna, GU 96932, USA
(February 13, 2026) Guam’s obesity prevalence is over 40% The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the nation’s latest Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps. Guam’s adult obesity prevalence is over 40% on the map. There are only 3 states or territories with 40% or higher adult obesity rates. The CDC has released the map every year since 2012. When the CDC released 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps for 48 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 territories in September 2024, Guam’s adult obesity rate has been above 35% for the first time. On the 2024 map released in December 2025, Guam’s adult obesity prevalence is 40.2%. On the 2023 map, Michigan, Puerto Rico, and Mississippi’s adult obesity rates were 35.4%, 36%, and 40.1%, respectively. Although their 2024 numbers also went up, Michigan’s rate for 2024 is 36.1%, Puerto Rico is 36.2%, and Mississippi is 40.4% while Guam’s adult obesity rate jumps significantly from 2023’s 35.4% to 2024’s 40.2%. Hawaii’s adult obesity prevalence has also kept increasing year by year, but its 2022 number was 25.9%, 2023 was 26.1%, and the latest 2024 is only 27%. Some states with a high obesity rate actually reversed the trend. Alaska’s number on the 2023 map was 35.2% and drops to 34% on the 2024 one. New Mexico’s rate drops to 34.5% on the 2024 map from 2023’s 35.3%. Also, in Missouri, 2023’s 35.3% drops to 2024’s 34.6%. In Illinois, 2023’s 36% drops to 2024’s 34.2%. So, it is possible to reverse the population’s obesity trend. Guam needs to encourage more people in the community to watch their body weight. The increasing prevalence of obesity is highly associated with the risk for developing diabetes, which is another Guam’s prevalent health issue. In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) warns that the rate of deaths from ischemic heart disease related to obesity nearly tripled in the U.S. over a two-decade span. The AHA explains that ischemic heart disease occurs when narrowed arteries reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. This can lead to a heart attack. Obesity is a serious risk factor for ischemic heart disease, and this risk is going up at an alarming rate along with the increasing prevalence of obesity. While the AHA is commemorating American Heart Month now in February, they also remind that body weight is a powerful signal of how the body’s most important systems are working together. Maintaining a healthy body weight supports the cardiovascular system, kidney and metabolim,  which is the way the body creates, stores and uses energy. When body weight is within a healthier range, the body manages blood sugar more easily, the heart works better, and the kidneys filter more effectively. Together, this is called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health. It happened that the Federal government released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 last month. According to its press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is confident that the new guidance will dramatically lower chronic disease for Americans. For example, the U.S. faces the highest obesity and type 2 diabetes rates in the developed world. One-third of teens in the U.S. suffer from pre-diabetes. 20% of children and adolescents have obesity, and 18.5% of young adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The HHS’ press release emphasized the new dietary guidelines are evangelizing real food. “The guidance provides possibilities across all recommendations. For example, in proteins, options such as chicken, pork, beans, and legumes; a larger variety of dairy products, at all price points, including whole milk and full-fat dairy products; fresh, frozen, dried, and canned fruits and vegetables, from beets to strawberries, carrots to apples; and whole grains. Paired with a reduction in highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.” HHS said. Our foundation welcomes the new dietary guidelines highlighting real food and prioritizing whole grains, healthy fats, high-quality protein, and all kinds of fruits and vegetables. We also commend the emphasis on avoiding highly processed foods and added sugar. We look forward to seeing the new dietary guidelines and the related policies really promote people’s healthier eating and provide school children, senior citizens, military members and our veterans with healthier meals to subsequently help reduce the prevalence of obesity and chronic disease. Speaking of promoting a real food framework in Guam, our island community obviously must work harder to secure the stability of the imported fresh food’s shipment as well as the locally produced food’s supply to help people's access to real food. That is why our foundation appreciates the hard work of the Port authority of Guam, the shipping companies, and all related organizations. We also admire the continuous efforts made by many local organizations to strengthen our island’s food resiliency. We therefore want to remind our island community that Guahan Sustainable Culture is trying the pilot “Southside Sunday Farmer’s Market” every Sunday morning in February at its Food Resiliency Hub in the village of Yona. We encourage community members to make time for the farmer’s market, enjoy the beautiful Sunday surrounded by natural beauties in the south of the island, and purchase food from local farmers and producers as much as possible. In addition to food and diet, body weight is affected by many other factors, including genetics, hormones, environment, medications, and stress. Willpower alone does not drive weight-loss outcomes. People with obesity should understand that learning the science behind weight management from professionals is important. Every small improvement can bring meaningful benefits. Steady lifestyle changes will help long-term well-being. http://www.hsvg.org/hot_530574.html * Guam’s obesity prevalence is over 40% 2026-02-13 2027-02-13
Guahan Global Foundation P.O. Box 206, Hagatna, GU 96932, USA http://www.hsvg.org/hot_530574.html
Guahan Global Foundation P.O. Box 206, Hagatna, GU 96932, USA http://www.hsvg.org/hot_530574.html
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2026-02-13 http://schema.org/InStock TWD 0 http://www.hsvg.org/hot_530574.html

Home ﹥ News > News > * Guam adult obesity rate over 35% for the first time in the latest CDC data

Guam adult obesity rate over 35% for the first time in the latest CDC data


Guahan Global Foundation calls on our island community to notice that Guam is among 25 states or territories with 35% or higher adult obesity rates in the latest Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last week. It is the first time Guam reaches this high category of adult obesity rate in the national data.

 

In the latest report, CDC highlights the issue of adult obesity rate over 35%, which means more than one in three adults has obesity. CDC emphasizes that, before 2013, no state has an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35% and the 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps for 48 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 territories, based on self-reported weight and height from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, shows a notable increase on the proportion of adults with a body mass index greater than or equal to 30.

 

Guahan Global Foundation looked into CDC’s database and found that Guam’s adult obesity rates from 2011 to 2014 were lower than 30%. Although People in Guam are no stranger to high obesity prevalence and CDC’s data from 2019 to 2022 did show Guam’s adult obesity rates have been increasing and already between 30% to 35%, the 2023 report is the first time Guam joins one of the highest categories of adult obesity rates. Guam’s adult obesity rate in CDC’s 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps is 35.4%.

 


Guahan Global Foundation therefore wants to remind our island community to be aware of the continuously increasing obesity prevalence in Guam. Obesity is actually a disease that can cause many health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses. In addition, the stigma and bias about a person’s weight can cause social and mental health consequences, such as anxiety and poor body image. A highest level of adult obesity rates our island has ever seen can significantly raise the risk for those health issues in Guam.

 

Guahan Global Foundation also suggests that Guam residents should kindly offer their support to overweight individuals in their families or friend circles to help them increase access to healthy food options, find safe and accessible places for physical activity, or reach out to stigma-free obesity treatment program if they want to improve their body weight. People are also welcome to check out Guahan Global Foundation’s TLC x TLC program, which combines US National Institutes of Health’s “Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes” and General Nutrition Center’s “Total Lean Challenge” to guide people properly reaching their weight-loss goals, at www.hsvg.org/hot_287522.html

 

CDC’s Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps also analyzes obesity rates by race and ethnicity. Guam’s non-Hispanic white adults’ obesity rate (25.5%) is relatively lower than the number of most states. The obesity rate of Asian adults in Guam is, much like most states, under 20%. While CDC found the adult obesity rates of American Indians or Alaska Native people were above 35% in 30 among 45 states, CDC did not have sufficient data to determine the obesity rate of the indigenous people in Guam.

 

Guahan Global Foundation’s search found a University of Guam research result published in 2008 showed 49% of Chamorro adults were obese while the obesity rate of Filipinos in Guam was 20%. We believe that new research on Chamorro adults’ obesity prevalence is needed. If the current number is even higher than 2008’s, a more aggressive intervention may need to be implemented.


(Press release | September 17, 2024)

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