WASHINGTON (TNND) -- In a surprising turn, obesity rates in the United States have decreased for the first time in over a decade, according to a study published in the Journal of JAMA Health Forum. The study, which tracked 16.7 million adults over the past ten years, found that adult obesity rates dropped from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023.

Although the decrease is slight, it marks the first decline since 2013. The study highlighted that the most significant drop was observed among women aged 66 to 75 in the southern United States. Additionally, both Black and White adults experienced slight decreases in obesity rates, while Asian adults saw a slight increase. However, Asians continue to have the lowest obesity rates compared to other racial groups in the U.S.

Researchers suggest that the decline in the South may be linked to the increased use of weight-loss medications, such as semaglutide, known commercially as Ozempic. This hypothesis is based on an analysis of insurance claims. However, researchers caution that it is too early to definitively attribute the decrease to these medications.

The study also noted that the South experienced higher COVID-19 mortality rates among individuals with obesity, which could have influenced the data, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The researchers acknowledged the limitations of using Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of health, describing it as an "imperfect proxy for body fat." They called for future studies to explore alternative measures, such as body composition or metabolic health, to better understand the shifts in obesity rates.