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American Diet Actions Don’t Match Desire

Nov. 26, 2014 – According to a new telephone survey by Gallup:

Half of Americans want to lose weight, but only 26% are trying.

The percentage wanting to lose weight remains at a low of 51%.

Americans’ ideas of their weight don’t match obesity figures.

Americans continue to be about twice as likely to want to lose weight (51%) as to say they are seriously trying to do so (26%). Desire to lose weight was relatively consistent between 2002 and 2008, at about the 60% level — peaking at 62% in 2004. But this desire has flagged in recent years, down to its lowest level of 51% in the past two years.

Although slightly more than 50% of Americans would like to lose weight, only 36% describe themselves as either “somewhat” or “very overweight.” More than half of Americans say their current weight is “about right” (56%).  In reality, 35% of Americans are overweight, and 28% are obese.

Gallup further reports that American women are further (20 lbs.) from their ideal weight than men (12 lbs.). While the average ideal weight for a man is 182 lbs., the average actual self-reported weight is 193 lbs. Women’s average ideal weight is 137 lbs, while 157 lbs is their self-reported average actual weight. It is not known how accurately Americans report their weight.

For the complete survey, see: Gallup http://www.gallup.com/poll/179771/americans-effort-lose-weight-trails-desire.aspx

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