Food and Health Fact #100

Fact #100: Americans' self-denial about being overweight

By Matthew Rees

Food and Health Fact #100: Americans' self-denial about being overweight

To mark publication of the 100th Food and Health Fact, I am reprinting the fact that has attracted the highest reader engagement. In addition, I will be taking an extended summer break and -- barring any breaking news -- will resume publication after Labor Day.

Approximately 70 percent of U.S. adults are overweight (within this group, 42 percent are obese). But Gallup surveys of nearly 5,000 Americans conducted from 2013-17 found that just 35 percent of men and 40 percent of women identified themselves as overweight. Gallup also reported that 52 percent of those surveyed wanted to lose weight – down from 60 percent in surveys conducted from 2003-07.

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