More Americans Say They Weigh 200 Lbs. or More This Decade

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the second decade of the 21^st century ends, a look back at 2010-2019 finds that more Americans have said they weigh at least 200 pounds than did so from 2001-2009. An average of 28% of Americans said they weighed 200 pounds or more from 2010-2019, up from 24% during the prior decade. Accordingly, Americans' average self-reported weight has also risen, to 178 pounds -- up from 174 pounds during the previous decade, with similar increases among men (4 pounds) and women (3 pounds).

	124 lbs. or less	125-149 lbs.	150-174 lbs.	175-199 lbs.	200 lbs. and over	Average weight
	%	%	%	%	%	lbs.
2010-2019
All Americans	7	18	23	19	28	178
Men	1	7	23	25	42	196
Women	14	28	24	13	14	159
2001-2009
All Americans	8	19	24	20	24	174
Men	2	7	23	29	38	192
Women	15	31	25	12	12	156
*Averages of answers between the listed dates
Gallup

These data come from Gallup's Health and Healthcare survey, conducted in November of each year. Gallup has asked Americans about their current weight and their ideal weight since 1990, including annually since 2001.

Between 2010 and 2019, an average of 42% of men indicated they weighed 200 or more pounds, up from 38% in the prior decade. Fourteen percent of women said they weigh 200 pounds or more, up from 12% between 2001 and 2009.

Fewer Americans Report Being Overweight

Even as Americans' weight has been increasing, fewer describe themselves as being "very" or "somewhat overweight." Thirty-eight percent of Americans, on average, have said they are very or somewhat overweight this decade, compared with 41% in the previous decade. At the same time, the average percentage of Americans who say their weight is "about right" has increased to 56% from 53%.

	Very/Somewhat overweight	About right	Somewhat/Very underweight
	%	%	%
2010-2019
All Americans	38	56	5
2001-2009
All Americans	41	53	5
*Average of the answers during the periods listed
Gallup

Americans' Perceptions of Ideal Weight Shifting Higher

Asked to indicate what their ideal weight would be, Americans tend to give a higher estimate now than in the prior decade. Fourteen percent, on average, over the current decade say their ideal weight is 200 pounds or more, compared with 11% during the previous decade. All of the observed increase is among men.

The average reported ideal weights for men and women have also grown modestly during this time, with men, on average, saying their ideal weight is 184 pounds and women saying 140 pounds. During the previous decade, men averaged 180 pounds as their ideal, and women, 137 pounds.

	124 lbs. or less	125-149 lbs.	150-174 lbs.	175-199 lbs.	200 lbs. and over	Average weight
	%	%	%	%	%	Lbs.
2010-2019
All Americans	10	26	26	20	14	162
Men	1	6	27	36	28	184
Women	18	45	26	5	1	140
2001-2009
All Americans	12	29	26	20	11	158
Men	2	7	31	37	21	180
Women	22	49	21	4	1	137
*Average of answers during the listed dates
Gallup

Fewer Americans Want to Lose Weight

With more Americans, on average, comfortable with their weight, it is perhaps not surprising that fewer are looking to lose weight, even as they are weighing more. An average of 54% of Americans have said they want to lose weight from 2010-2019, compared with 59% who said so from 2001-2009.

	Lose weight	Stay at present	Put on weight
	%	%	%
2010-2019
All Americans	54	38	7
Men	47	42	10
Women	60	35	4
2001-2009
All Americans	59	34	7
Men	52	39	9
Women	65	31	4
* Average of answers between the dates listed
Gallup

The average percentages saying they want to shed pounds fell by the same amount, five percentage points, among men and women between the two decades. Both are more likely than they were from 2001-2009 to say they intend to stay at their current weight -- 42% of men and 35% of women this decade, compared with 39% and 31%, respectively.

Bottom Line

Obesity, defined as having a body mass index of 30 or more, is consistently described as an epidemic in the U.S. today, and it is estimated that it causes one in five deaths in the U.S. each year. In response, a few cities and municipalities have instituted taxes on unhealthy foods in an effort to disincentivize their consumption, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state health departments, has made major efforts to address the problem. Additionally, employers and others have offered wellness plans and other incentives to persuade Americans to shed pounds. And, at the same time that the U.S. public has grown heavier, numerous fad diets have become popular.

Despite these efforts, policies and popular diets, more Americans, on average, weigh at least 200 pounds this decade than last. Americans also appear more comfortable with their increased weight and less likely to want to act to lose weight. The current efforts to address the issue have evidently not been sufficient, and a new approach is likely warranted to convince Americans of the need to curb their weight.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

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