Decade-Long Study Reveals Rising Obesity Rates Among U.S. Teens as Weight-Loss Attempts Hit Multi-Year Lows

FAU study finds US high school obesity rose to 15.9% by 2023. Learn why fewer teens are attempting weight loss despite increasing health risks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 12:06 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Florida Atlantic University

A Growing Public Health Crisis in American High Schools

The landscape of adolescent health in the United States has shifted dramatically over the last ten years, marked by a steady and concerning climb in obesity rates among high school students. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine analyzed data from over 85,000 students to track these trends from 2013 to 2023. The findings, recently published in the Ochsner Journal, indicate that nearly 16% of teens are now classified as obese, a status that carries severe long-term risks for chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This upward trajectory suggests that current health interventions are struggling to keep pace with the sedentary lifestyles and nutritional challenges facing today's youth.

Disparities in Obesity Prevalence Across Racial Groups

The data highlights significant demographic disparities, showing that obesity does not affect all adolescent populations equally. According to the study, Black and Hispanic teenagers consistently recorded the highest rates of obesity, reaching peaks of 21.2% and 20.2%, respectively. In contrast, while Asian American teenagers maintained the lowest overall prevalence, their obesity rates nearly doubled during the decade, jumping from 5.6% to 11%. These figures underscore a critical need for culturally tailored public health strategies that address the specific socio-economic and environmental factors influencing weight gain in minority communities.

The Decline of Weight Management Motivation

Perhaps the most startling revelation of the research is the simultaneous drop in weight-loss attempts despite the rise in body mass. In 2013, nearly 48% of high schoolers reported trying to lose weight, but by 2023, that number had fallen to 44.5%. This decline was especially pronounced among older students in the 10th and 12th grades. Researchers suggest that a combination of factors, including potential desensitization to higher body weights and the mental health impacts of social media, may be eroding the motivation for teens to engage in healthy weight-management behaviors as they age.