Obesity is high and holding steady in the U.S. About 4 in 10 Americans have obesity overall and about 1 in 10 have severe obesity.

Diabetes and obesity are on the rise among young adults in the U.S., according to new data from the American Medical Association.

New research reveals that a drug used to control symptoms of ADHD may be able to combat obesity.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people who are obese are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. But in recent days, doctors who have studied or treated obese patients infected with the coronavirus say its worse than originally thought. Dr. Elizabeth Ransom, chief physician executive of Baptist Health, said the fact that obesity already impacts the respiratory system, and COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system, cant be overlooked. Its related to increased difficulty with breathing and air movement that obese patients have, and clearly COVID-19 has significant respiratory implications, Ransom said. People with a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30 are considered obese, so if they get infected with COVID-19, Ransom said it increases the risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 by 20%.