Fewer Americans are obsessed with losing weight, and are even OK with having a few more pounds around their middle, according to a new pre-Thanksgiving Day survey.
Those hoping to lose weight have dropped from 58 percent to 53 percent, and the “ideal weight” of the nation has bumped up eight pounds to 161, according to Gallup.
What’s more, in a show that Americans are getting comfortable with being a big overweight, Gallup found that the average self-reported weight has jumped 10 points, from 166 in the 1990s to 176 today.
And probably in the biggest demonstration that few are going to turn down seconds at the Thanksgiving table, the percentage of Americans who say they’re overweight has plummeted to just 37 percent.
That clashes with the federal government which has condemned American obesity: 68.8 percent of adults are considered to be overweight or obese.
Body weight is a sensitive topic for many Americans. The U.S. obesity rate has actually risen to its highest point since Gallup began tracking this measure. In the 1950s, many more women than men said they wanted to lose weight — yet in recent decades, men have almost caught up with women in their desire for a trimmer body. On the other hand, fewer Americans now than in the past two decades believe they are overweight, and the benchmark for their ideal weight continues to be set higher. These concepts may make it easier for Americans to enjoy extra portions this Thanksgiving season, especially if they feel content being a little heavier than in decades past.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
