WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Forty-one percent of U.S. adults, on average over the past five years, from 2017 to 2021, have characterized themselves as overweight, while the slight majority (53%) have said their weight is about right and 5% reported they are underweight.
The percentage overweight is up from 36% in the prior five-year period, from 2012-2016, but similar to the rates between 2002 and 2011.
| 2002-2006 | 2007-2011 | 2012-2016 | 2017-2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| Overweight | 41 | 39 | 36 | 41 |
| About right | 53 | 55 | 57 | 53 |
| Underweight | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Averages based on aggregated data | ||||
| gallup | ||||
Gallup measures the public's attitudes about their personal weight situations each November as part of its Health and Healthcare poll -- one of the surveys that make up the Gallup Poll Social Series.
The findings contrast with federal health statistics that are based on physical measurements, which show that nearly three-quarters of Americans are either overweight or obese. However, the 41% describing themselves as overweight in Gallup surveys is consistent with the latest federal obesity rate of 42%, suggesting that obese people as the government defines them are the ones most likely to self-report being overweight.
In addition to asking respondents if they are overweight, Gallup's annual healthcare poll tracks U.S. adults' self-reported current weight, their desire to lose weight, whether they are currently trying to lose weight and what they consider to be their ideal weight.
Americans Have Gotten Heavier
After being fairly stable in each five-year period from 2002 through 2016, Americans' average self-reported weight for 2017 through 2021 increased by five pounds to 181 pounds.
Both men and women have weighed more, on average, over the past five years than they weighed during any previous period. Men's weight is up four pounds since 2012-2016 to an average 199 pounds in 2017-2021, while women's is up six pounds to 163 pounds over the same period.
| 2002-2006 | 2007-2011 | 2012-2016 | 2017-2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| U.S. adults | 174 | 176 | 176 | 181 |
| Men | 193 | 194 | 195 | 199 |
| Women | 154 | 158 | 157 | 163 |
| Averages based on aggregated data | ||||
| gallup | ||||
What Percentage of Americans Want to Lose Weight?
The percentage of Americans who want to lose weight has been more variable over the past two decades. The average 55% of U.S. adults who have expressed a desire to lose weight between 2017 and 2021 is up slightly from the previous five-year period (52%), in line with the 2007 through 2011 reading (57%) and slightly lower than the 2002-2006 figure (60%).
Women are much more likely than men to say they want to lose weight. While about three in five women in the latest five-year period would like to trim their waistlines, just under half of men express the same desire. This pattern has been consistent since 2002-2006.
| 2002-2006 | 2007-2011 | 2012-2016 | 2017-2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| U.S. adults | 60 | 57 | 52 | 55 |
| Men | 53 | 50 | 45 | 49 |
| Women | 66 | 64 | 58 | 61 |
| Averages based on aggregated data | ||||
| gallup | ||||
How Many Americans Actively Trying to Lose Weight?
Although more than half of Americans would like to lose weight, an average 26% have said they were seriously trying to do so from 2017 through 2021. This is not significantly different from the previous three five-year periods.
Women (29%) are more likely than men (23%) to report that they are actively attempting to slim down, which has also been a consistent pattern.
| 2002-2006 | 2007-2011 | 2012-2016 | 2017-2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| U.S. adults | 27 | 28 | 25 | 26 |
| Men | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 |
| Women | 32 | 32 | 29 | 29 |
| Averages based on aggregated data | ||||
| gallup | ||||
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Gallup measures health attitudes and behaviors each year as part of its Gallup Poll Social Series.
Explore more Gallup articles about weight on the Personal Weight Situation Topics page.
For more articles in the "Short Answer" series, visit Gallup's The Short Answer page.
