PRINCETON, NJ -- With the Thanksgiving holiday and food aplenty, 'tis the season to watch one's waistline. Indeed, there is much to watch. A Gallup survey conducted earlier this month calculated the body mass index (BMI) of Americans based on their reported height and weight, and found more than half of all Americans overweight -- though just 4 in 10 think of themselves that way. Moreover, if all Americans reached what they identify as their "ideal" weight, 37% would still be carrying too many pounds according to the BMI, including 4% who would be classified as obese.
The poll, conducted Nov. 3-5, 2003, shows that 55% of all Americans report height and weight figures that classify them as either overweight (35%) or obese (20%). Last year, the figures were almost the same.
Percentage of Americans in Each Weight Category |
These estimates are based on the method used by the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to measure how healthy a person's weight is. A person's reported weight and height are translated into a body mass index (BMI), essentially a ratio between the two measures. BMI scores of less than 20 are considered underweight; scores of 20 to less than 25 are considered normal; and any score of 25 or greater suggests the person is overweight. A score of 30 or higher suggests the person is obese, which potentially poses severe health problems.
The estimates of overweight suggested by the BMI are far higher than self-reports of being overweight. Just 41% of Americans overall say they are either "somewhat" (37%) or "very" (4%) overweight.
How would you describe your own personal weight situation right now -- very overweight, somewhat overweight, about right, somewhat underweight, or very underweight?
|
Some- |
About |
Some- |
|
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2003 Nov 3-5 |
4 |
37 |
53 |
5 |
1 |
* |
2003 Jul 7-9 |
4 |
39 |
50 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
6 |
36 |
51 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2002 Jul 9-11 |
6 |
34 |
55 |
5 |
* |
* |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
6 |
38 |
51 |
4 |
* |
1 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
5 |
41 |
49 |
5 |
* |
* |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
4 |
35 |
53 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
7 |
41 |
46 |
5 |
1 |
* |
These self-reports have fluctuated very little over the past decade, though Americans are somewhat less likely to say they are overweight today than they were in 1990.
More Overweight Men Than Women; but Fewer Men Trying to Lose Weight
Men are more likely than women to be classified as overweight and obese according to the BMI -- 68% of men compared with 43% of women.
Percentage of Men and Women in Each Weight Category |
Nov. 3-5, 2003 |
Only half of men (51%), compared with two-thirds of women (68%), say they want to lose weight. These results are typical of those Gallup has measured since 1990 -- with women more likely than men to say they want to lose weight, by margins of 14 percentage points to 19 percentage points.
Percentage of Men and Women Who Want to Lose Weight and Percentage Trying to Lose Weight |
Though large numbers of both groups say they want to lose weight, relatively few are trying to do so. Currently, 21% of men say they are seriously trying to lose weight, compared with 35% of women. Again, Gallup has found this pattern in all of its measures over the past decade.
Only About Half of Overweight Americans Trying to Lose
Most overweight people want to lose weight, but only about half are actually making the effort. Among people classified as obese by the BMI, 93% want to lose weight, but just 45% say they are seriously trying to do so.
Percentage of Americans in Each Weight
Category Who Want to or Are Trying to Lose Weight |
Nov. 3-5, 2003 |
Similarly, among people classified as overweight but not obese, only 36% are trying to lose weight, while 69% say they want to. The percentage is even lower for people in the healthy weight category -- while 38% want to lose, just 13% are making the effort. Perhaps the fact that they are in the acceptable BMI range (and recognize that they are not really overweight) gives them less motivation to lose. Only a small percentage of people in the underweight category either desire or are trying to lose.
Ideal Weight
Because many people want to lose weight, it's not surprising that about two-thirds of Americans cite an ideal weight that is below their actual weight -- 63% of men, and 71% of women. On average, the ideal weight for men is 14 pounds lower than their reported actual weight, and for women, almost 19 pounds lower.
But even if everyone reached their ideal weight, the BMI indicates that 37% of Americans would still be classified as overweight, including 4% in the obese category.
- Of the people who are overweight now (but not obese), as measured by the BMI, 54% would still be overweight if they reached their self-reported "ideal" weight.
- Three-quarters of currently obese people, if they reached their ideal body weight, would still be overweight -- 60% would be reclassified down to the overweight category, but 15% would remain in the obese group.
- Among those in the healthy weight category who reached their perceived ideal weight, 6% would then be overweight, and 7% would be underweight.
- Among the small number of underweight Americans who reached what they perceived to be their ideal weight, 35% would move from underweight to healthy weight, and another 2% would be overweight. The rest, 63%, would remain underweight.
Caution About the BMI
The National Institutes of Health cautions against too much reliance on the BMI as an individual assessment of one's health. Here are some caveats from NIH:
- "BMI does not directly measure percent of body fat, but it is a more accurate indicator of overweight and obesity than relying on weight alone.
- "One problem with using BMI as a measurement tool is that very muscular people may fall into the 'overweight' category when they are actually healthy and fit.
- "Another problem with using BMI is that people who have lost muscle mass, such as the elderly, may be in the 'healthy weight' category -- according to their BMI -- when they actually have reduced nutritional reserves.
- "BMI, therefore, is useful as a general guideline to monitor trends in the population, but by itself is not diagnostic of an individual patient's health status."
Gallup has used the BMI in this analysis as a general guideline to monitor the trends in the population.
Survey Methods
Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,007 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Nov. 3-5, 2003. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
23. How would you describe your own personal weight situation right now -- very overweight, somewhat overweight, about right, somewhat underweight, or very underweight?
|
Some- |
About |
Some- |
|
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2003 Nov 3-5 |
4 |
37 |
53 |
5 |
1 |
* |
2003 Jul 7-9 |
4 |
39 |
50 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
6 |
36 |
51 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2002 Jul 9-11 |
6 |
34 |
55 |
5 |
* |
* |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
6 |
38 |
51 |
4 |
* |
1 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
5 |
41 |
49 |
5 |
* |
* |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
4 |
35 |
53 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
7 |
41 |
46 |
5 |
1 |
* |
24. What is your approximate current weight?
124 lbs. |
125-149 |
150-174 |
175-199 |
200 lbs. |
No |
Avg. |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
||
National Adults |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
8 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
24 |
4 |
174 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
9 |
22 |
22 |
18 |
25 |
4 |
173 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
8 |
20 |
24 |
22 |
22 |
4 |
171 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
8 |
19 |
26 |
20 |
22 |
5 |
173 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
11 |
19 |
25 |
20 |
20 |
4 |
170 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
12 |
27 |
27 |
16 |
15 |
3 |
161 |
Men |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
1 |
7 |
19 |
34 |
38 |
1 |
195 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
1 |
8 |
25 |
24 |
41 |
1 |
193 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
1 |
8 |
22 |
33 |
35 |
1 |
189 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
3 |
8 |
26 |
28 |
34 |
1 |
188 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
1 |
6 |
27 |
31 |
33 |
2 |
190 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
2 |
11 |
35 |
27 |
25 |
* |
180 |
Women |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
15 |
34 |
23 |
10 |
11 |
6 |
153 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
15 |
35 |
21 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
153 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
15 |
31 |
26 |
11 |
11 |
6 |
153 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
13 |
29 |
26 |
12 |
12 |
8 |
158 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
20 |
32 |
24 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
150 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
21 |
42 |
20 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
142 |
25. What is your approximate current height?
|
|
|
|
|
|
6'4" |
|
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
||
National Adults |
|||||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
4 |
13 |
26 |
15 |
23 |
15 |
3 |
2 |
5'7" |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
3 |
15 |
27 |
16 |
20 |
15 |
3 |
1 |
5'8" |
Men |
|||||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
* |
1 |
9 |
13 |
39 |
31 |
6 |
1 |
5'10" |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
-- |
1 |
7 |
17 |
36 |
31 |
7 |
1 |
5'11" |
Women |
|||||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
7 |
24 |
41 |
18 |
7 |
1 |
-- |
3 |
5'4" |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
5 |
28 |
44 |
16 |
6 |
* |
* |
1 |
5'5" |
BODY MASS INDEX (Q.24-25)
< 20 |
20-25 |
26-30 |
30+ |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
National Adults |
|||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
4 |
36 |
35 |
20 |
5 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
5 |
36 |
36 |
18 |
5 |
Men |
|||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
3 |
28 |
45 |
23 |
1 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
3 |
32 |
46 |
17 |
2 |
Women |
|||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
6 |
43 |
26 |
17 |
8 |
2001 Nov 8-11 |
6 |
39 |
28 |
19 |
8 |
NOTE: Body Mass Index is a ratio of one's weight to one's height. It is calculated as a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared. |
41. Would you like to [ROTATED: lose weight, stay at your present weight, or put on weight]?
Lose |
Put on |
Stay at |
No |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
National Adults |
||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
60 |
8 |
32 |
* |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
58 |
8 |
34 |
* |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
59 |
7 |
34 |
* |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
52 |
9 |
39 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
55 |
4 |
41 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
52 |
7 |
40 |
1 |
1957 Aug 29-Sep 4 |
35 |
11 |
49 |
5 |
1955 Jun 24-29 |
37 |
13 |
48 |
2 |
1954 Jul 2-7 |
35 |
14 |
50 |
1 |
1953 Feb 1-5 |
37 |
13 |
49 |
1 |
1951 |
31 |
17 |
50 |
2 |
Men |
||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
51 |
12 |
37 |
* |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
49 |
11 |
40 |
* |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
49 |
12 |
39 |
0 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
44 |
13 |
43 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
45 |
6 |
49 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
42 |
10 |
47 |
1 |
1957 Aug 29-Sep 4 |
25 |
14 |
56 |
5 |
1955 Jun 24-29 |
24 |
16 |
58 |
2 |
1954 Jul 2-7 |
26 |
16 |
58 |
* |
1953 Feb 1-5 |
10 |
20 |
68 |
2 |
1951 |
21 |
20 |
57 |
2 |
Women |
||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
68 |
4 |
28 |
|
2002 Nov 11-14 |
66 |
4 |
30 |
* |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
68 |
2 |
30 |
* |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
58 |
5 |
37 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
63 |
3 |
34 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
61 |
4 |
34 |
1 |
1957 Aug 29-Sep 4 |
45 |
8 |
42 |
5 |
1955 Jun 24-29 |
49 |
10 |
38 |
3 |
1954 Jul 2-7 |
45 |
12 |
42 |
1 |
1953 Feb 1-5 |
43 |
11 |
45 |
1 |
1951 |
44 |
12 |
43 |
1 |
42. What do you think is the ideal body weight for you, personally?
124 lbs. |
125-149 |
150-174 |
175-199 |
200 lbs. |
No |
Average weight |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
National Adults |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
12 |
33 |
21 |
20 |
12 |
2 |
157 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
15 |
28 |
24 |
18 |
11 |
4 |
157 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
11 |
31 |
26 |
20 |
9 |
3 |
156 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
13 |
31 |
23 |
19 |
12 |
3 |
157 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
18 |
32 |
24 |
16 |
6 |
4 |
149 |
Men |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
1 |
9 |
27 |
39 |
23 |
2 |
181 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
1 |
8 |
31 |
34 |
24 |
2 |
181 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
2 |
8 |
31 |
38 |
19 |
2 |
177 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
* |
8 |
28 |
37 |
23 |
3 |
180 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
1 |
10 |
41 |
33 |
12 |
3 |
171 |
Women |
|||||||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
22 |
55 |
16 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
135 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
27 |
46 |
17 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
134 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
20 |
51 |
22 |
3 |
* |
4 |
137 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
25 |
52 |
17 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
136 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
32 |
51 |
10 |
2 |
* |
5 |
129 |
COMBINED RESPONSES (Q.24/Q.42)
2003 Nov 3-5 |
National Adults |
Men |
Women |
|||
% |
% |
% |
||||
Under Ideal Weight |
12 |
15 |
9 |
|||
More than 20 lbs. |
2 |
3 |
* |
|||
11-20 lbs. |
3 |
5 |
1 |
|||
1-10 lbs. |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|||
At ideal weight |
16 |
19 |
12 |
|||
Over Ideal Weight |
67 |
63 |
71 |
|||
1-10 lbs. |
26 |
24 |
27 |
|||
11-20 lbs. |
15 |
16 |
14 |
|||
21-50 lbs. |
18 |
15 |
21 |
|||
More than 50 lbs. |
8 |
8 |
9 |
|||
Undesignated |
5 |
3 |
8 |
|||
Mean |
+16.3 |
+14.0 |
+18.5 |
|||
Median |
+10 |
+7 |
+10 |
Q.42 CONTINUED
HISTORIC TREND: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTUAL AND IDEAL WEIGHT
Mean |
Median |
|
National Adults |
||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
+16.3 |
+10 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
+15.5 |
+10 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
+16.6 |
+10 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
+11.8 |
+6 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
+11.3 |
+5 |
Men |
||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
+14.0 |
+7 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
+12.4 |
+5 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
+11.9 |
+5 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
+9.8 |
+5 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
+9.1 |
+5 |
Women |
||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
+18.5 |
+10 |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
+18.6 |
+10 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
+21.3 |
+10 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
+13.6 |
+8 |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
+13.3 |
+8 |
Note: Positive numbers indicate over ideal weight, negative numbers indicate under ideal weight |
At this time are you seriously trying to lose weight?
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
% |
% |
% |
|
National Adults |
|||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
28 |
72 |
* |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
24 |
75 |
1 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
25 |
75 |
* |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
20 |
80 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
26 |
74 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
18 |
82 |
* |
1955 |
17 |
83 |
* |
1953 |
25 |
75 |
* |
1951 |
19 |
81 |
* |
Men |
|||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
21 |
79 |
* |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
19 |
80 |
1 |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
17 |
82 |
1 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
16 |
84 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
22 |
78 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
11 |
88 |
1 |
Women |
|||
2003 Nov 3-5 |
35 |
65 |
* |
2002 Nov 11-14 |
30 |
70 |
* |
2001 Jul 19-22 |
32 |
68 |
0 |
1999 Jul 22-25 |
24 |
76 |
* |
1996 Feb 23-25 |
30 |
70 |
* |
1990 Oct 18-21 |
24 |
76 |
* |