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)
