Recent reports from Gallup-Healthways show that the percentage of obese adults in the United States continues to rise.

The adult obesity rate is currently at 27.7 percent, up by two percentage points since 2008. It is also the highest rate to be recorded by Gallup and Healthways in the past seven years.

The people who were in the overweight category moved to the obesity category since 2013. The number of people considered to be underweight or have normal weight stayed the same.

Reports find that there is a link between obesity and lower well-being.

"To date, most efforts to curb obesity focus on driving weight loss through diet and exercise, without addressing other aspects of well-being that may contribute to obesity," said Janna Lacatell, Healthways Lifestyle Solutions Director. "The rising obesity rate suggests these efforts have been largely ineffective. While access to evidence-based, proven weight loss programs emphasizing better nutrition and more physical activity is a critical component to reducing obesity, these interventions alone are not enough. To make a truly measurable impact on reducing obesity rates, interventions should also address other factors known to influence weight management, such as financial and social well-being."

Obesity is also associated with physical health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic disease.

The new report is based on data taken from phone interviews conducted from Jan. 2 to Dec. 30, 2014 with 167,029 adults in America, Yahoo! Health reported.

Obesity rates have increased across the U.S. in all major demographic groups. Older Americans of age 65 and up have been affected the most by a rise in obesity. The group's obesity rose by four percentage points.

Blacks have not seen much of an increase in obesity rates since 2008, although the group has the highest rate among all Americans.

Young adults between ages 18 to 29 are the least likely to be affected by obesity.

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