Editor's Note: This research was conducted in partnership with the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, a joint initiative to report the voices and experiences of Americans within the healthcare system.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the calendar flips to a new year and Americans start to think about making resolutions, 41% describe themselves as being at least somewhat overweight, and 52% say they would like to lose weight. However, only half as many (26%) are actively trying to do so. Women continue to be more likely than men to say they are overweight and want to lose weight.
These findings, from the West Health-Gallup Health and Healthcare Survey conducted Nov. 3-25, are generally in line with the trends over recent years for each reading among all adults, women and men.
Four in 10 Americans Report Being Overweight
Gallup has tracked Americans’ description of their own weight since 1999, asking if they would describe their personal weight situation as very overweight, somewhat overweight, about right, somewhat underweight or very underweight. The largest segment of Americans, between 48% and 60%, has consistently said their weight is about right, while 34% to 44% have reported that they are overweight and just 4% to 8% have said they are underweight.
The latest West Health-Gallup survey finds that 50% of Americans consider their weight to be about right, 41% very or somewhat overweight, and 8% very or somewhat underweight. This marks the eighth consecutive measure with at least 40% of U.S. adults saying they are overweight, which follows an eight-year period of readings below 40%.
Throughout the trend, women have been more likely than men to report being overweight, including a six-percentage-point gender gap between women (43%) and men (37%) in the current survey.
In addition to the long-term gender gap, there have been significant, consistent differences throughout the trend by age. Currently, 30% of 18- to 34-year-old adults say they are overweight, compared with 44% of 35- to 54-year-olds and 45% of adults aged 55 and older. Each of these readings is in line with the average over the past quarter century.
Self-Reported Body Weight and Ideal Weight Have Inched Up
The poll also tracks Americans' self-reported body weight. Among all U.S. adults, the average over the past five years is 181 pounds, including 163 pounds for adult women and 198 pounds for adult men. These figures represent increases since 1990 of 20 pounds for all U.S. adults, 21 pounds for women and 18 pounds for men.
Gallup finds that as Americans have gained weight, they have adjusted their expectations of what their ideal body weight is, with those targets averaging roughly 15 pounds more today than in 1990. U.S. adults’ average ideal weight in the 2021-2025 data is 165 pounds, including 144 pounds for women and 185 pounds for men. In 1990, those averages were 149 pounds for all adults, 129 for women and 171 for men.
Slim Majority of Americans Would Like to Lose Weight
A slim majority of U.S. adults, 52%, now say they would like to lose weight. Meanwhile, 37% of Americans are content with maintaining their current weight, and 10% say they want to gain weight.
These readings have been fairly steady since 1996, when regular tracking of this measure began. The earliest readings on this measure, between 1951 and 1957, were quite different from today, with pluralities content to remain at their present weight.
Women have historically outpaced men in their desire to lose weight. The 58% of women who would like to lose weight now compares with 46% of men, which is close to the average 15-point gap since 1951.
Although 52% of Americans express a desire to lose weight, only half as many (26%) say they are seriously trying to do so. This includes 30% of women and 22% of men. Each of these readings tracks closely with the trend average since 1996.
The current gap between the desire to lose weight and the actual effort to do so is slightly larger for women (58% vs. 30%, 28 points) than for men (46% vs. 22%, 24 points).
Bottom Line
While the recent rise in use of GLP-1 drugs is linked to a notable decrease in obesity in the U.S., a steady four in 10 Americans report being at least somewhat overweight, and more than half continue to say they would like to lose weight. Yet only half of those who want to lose weight are actively trying to do so.
A gender imbalance persists, with women more likely than men to view themselves as overweight and to express a desire to lose weight.
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Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
