Chart of the Day: Solving Obesity Has Consequences

As much as I want to dismiss the following U.S. obesity chart on technical grounds—truncated y axis, massive effect size claimed in a short time, and skewed sampling—it is hard not to think there is a there, given the huge Epic data set. It shows that the US has likely passed peak obesity, and, largely under the pressure of GLP-1s, is on a downward trajectory.

Many people have discussed the obvious consequences, so here are some less expected ones to consider:

1. Commercial real estate further weakens
   1. Fewer obesity-driven healthcare facilities required
   2. Suburban medical-office demand growth slows materially
2. Airline economics subtly improve
   1. Average passenger weight declines reduce fuel consumption
   2. Aircraft range and payload efficiency improve marginally
3. Dating and fertility dynamics shift
   1. Fertility rates may rise modestly among older adults
   2. Appearance competition intensifies across middle-aged populations
4. Longevity inequality compounds across generations
   1. Wealthy populations accumulate health, energy, and attractiveness advantages simultaneously
   2. Biological aging increasingly becomes economically stratified