Study: Obese Americans Now Outnumber Those Who Are Merely Overweight

Chris | InformationLiberation
Jun. 23, 2015

It's not the worst problem a country could have, but according to a new study from the JAMA more than two thirds of Americans are obese or overweight and obese Americans now outnumber those who are merely overweight.

The LA Times reports:

Americans have reached a weighty milestone: Adults who are obese now outnumber those who are merely overweight, according to a new report in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

A tally by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis estimated that 67.6 million Americans over the age of 25 were obese as of 2012, and an additional 65.2 million were overweight. Their count was based on data collected between 2007 and 2012 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, an ongoing study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[...]Women were much more likely to be obese than overweight, with 37% of women in the former category and 30% in the latter. Altogether, two out every three women in the U.S. were above a normal weight.

The proportion of men who were obese was almost as high as women – 35%. But that figure was lower than the 40% of men who were in the overweight zone. With both groups combined, three out of four men in the U.S. exceeded a normal weight.

While it's better people be too fat than not have enough to eat, it's still a problem.

The issue roots back to the 70's with the demonization of fat in the American diet and the promotion of carbs loaded with sugars as a replacement. The problem is, unlike fat, carbs and sugars are not satisfying. You're always left wanting more. Fat on the other hand is extremely satiating, small amounts can make a person feel quite satisfied and give them plenty of energy.

Nonetheless, the government demonized fat and told everyone it was bad for them, so food producers all starting taking fat out of their products and replacing it with sugar (for taste) and carbs (for filler), and shocker -- Americans ballooned as a result. Despite the government's propaganda, recent studies show fat is not bad for you, it's sugar that is now in the crosshairs.

Speaking from personal experience, I've found a high fat, somewhat low carb, low sugar diet is extremely easy to stick to and I've been decently trim for the last five or so years. If you're wondering what to eat, just flip the food pyramid upside down and go to town.