A recent Gallup poll, which has collected data since the 1990s, has shown Americans, men and women, are steadily increasing their perception of their “Ideal” weight and their actual weight. In 1990 American men said their ideal weight was 171 pounds, while averaging 180. Today men said their ideal weight is 185 while actual weight is 196 pounds. In 1990 American women said their ideal weight was 129 pounds when their actual weight was 142 pounds. Today women report their ideal weight at 140 while actually weighing 156 pounds. The Gallup poll went on to say that 35.8% of Americans are overweight and 26.1% are obese according to BMI (Body Mass Index) standards.
More info can be found at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/158921/americans-continue-adjust-ideal-weightupward.aspx
Article from PT in Motion May magazine: http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/2013/5/
