Countless news outlets have speculated about how the international obesity epidemic – and the health risks that accompany it – will affect healthcare systems and government agencies. However it may also help to look at how this weight gain can transform the concept of fitness among everyday individuals.
One way to gauge this impact is by comparing statistics regarding the typical weight that people perceive as healthy or ideal. In 1990, the Gallup polling service conducted a health survey asking Americans to declare not just their current weights, but how much they believed they should weigh. Gallup has repeatedly issued this survey, and began doing so on a yearly basis in 2001.
Based on the figures it has collected over the years, the source noted an interesting trend: In addition to weighing more on average, Americans are also aiming for higher weights from year to year. Essentially, Gallup explains, the concept of ideal weight in the United States is reflecting the documented increase in waistlines.
Of course, when it comes to losing weight, it is important to set a relatively realistic goal that can be pursued through physical activity and a healthy diet. In fact, Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a representative from the American Dietetic Association, told WebMD that incorporating habits like eating breakfast and going for a jog into your daily routine is far more important than hitting a designated number on the scale.
"When you set behavior goals, they are easier to accomplish and they make you feel good," she told the online health resource.
Though these actions are beneficial in and of themselves, it may be hard to fight the temptation to leap on the scale every morning. To supplement your healthier lifestyle choices, click here to read information about our weight management products.