Americans weigh more this decade than they did the last ten years, but fewer adults say they want to lose weight. 28% of Americans said they weighed 200 pounds or more between 2010 and 2109- a four point jump from 2001-2009, according to a new Gallup poll. Still fewer Americans now consider themselves overweight or obese.
This might reflect changing attitudes toward weight, but the pollsters said it doesn’t bode well for health. Local and state programs to address obesity haven’t been enough to stall its spread across the United States, despite increased risk of deadly diseases that accompany excessive weight gain. Fewer US adults want to lose weight compared to the last decade, some 54%. 40% of men and women are content with their current weight. At least 60% of women want to lose weight. Some 42% of men respondents weighed more than 200lbs, compared to only 14% of women. The average American’s self- reported weight has jumped 4 pounds to 178 pounds.
200 pounds isn’t an unhealthy weight for people 6 feet 4 inches or taller, but for the majority of Americans who are shorter, that weight can be considered overweight or even obese. Obesity is considered an epidemic. More than 70% of American adults are overweight or obese, a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found. Excessive weight gain is tied to poorer mental health and several leading causes of death in the US, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.
Of course this article came out just after Thanksgiving! Ugh.