10 Notable Statistics of Weight Loss

Though, losing weight seems to be simple, it is more than meets the eye. Losing is not just a simple concept where all you need to do is to eat fewer calories than you are burning and you’ll lose weight.

That is why; I believe that knowing the statistics behind weight loss is also important in understanding how does weight loss works:

1. The whole world needs to lose weight.

In a study conducted by the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion of the world’s population is overweight.

Internationally, the number of over 22 million children under the age of 5 are considered overweight. This epidemic is largely because of the increased consumption of processed foods high in calories and saturated fat, and less physical activities.

2. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese.

The World health Organization believes that an estimated two-thirds of all American adults are overweight. The National Center for Health Statistics recently discovered that 34% of Americans are clinically obese.

3. 50% of American women and 25% of American men are currently on a diet.

Since most people around the world are overweight, it is expected that most of them feel the need to count calories.

However, society’s obsession with becoming thin has a price: Chronic dieting and emerging eating disorders are also getting prevalent among elementary school children.

4. America’s top three killers are linked to obesity.

National Geographic published some eye-opening facts about mortality in the USA.

They found that the top three most statistically likely causes of death were heart disease (with a 1 in 5 chance), cancer (with a 1 in 7 chance), and stroke (with a 1 in 24 chance). All of these starts from being overweight.

5. Surprisingly, America isn’t the world’s fattest nation.

The World Health Organization gives that dubious honor to Samoa, where more than 93% of the population is overweight or obese. The Pacific isle of Kiribati comes next, with an 82% obesity rate.

America rounds out the top three, but is closely followed by Germany (66.5%), Egypt (66%), and Bosnia-Herzegovina (63%).

6. The weight loss industry is fat and happy.

Because most of the world’s population is overweight, it is no wonder why the weight loss industry is happy. The truth is that they are making money from overweight and obese people.

In 2007 alone, the American Diatetic Association found that Americans spent $58 billion on weight loss products. With the problem occurring globally, the weight loss industry is making more than that.

7. Over half of the diet industry’s claims are false.

As with any booming industry, there are plenty of so-called expert trying to cash in on people’s dream to lose weight. The Federal Trade Commission published a study in 2002 which found that 55% of all weight loss claims “strained credibility”.

The American Diatetic Association concurs, indicating the fact that most weight loss products focus on uncommon success stories instead of real chances of success.

8. Bariatric surgery doesn’t always work.

Because most people get discouraged from multiple failed attempts at weight loss, they are turning to bariatric surgery. However, not all gastric bypass or banding result are permanent.

According to the University of Virginia, some people regain the weight they lost after 6 years post-surgery.

9. Diets don’t work either.

The National Institute of Health has estimated that dieters can expect to regain two-thirds of their lost weight within a year of carrying out their diet plan. These dieters would be fatter within 5 years.

10. Fortunately, there is a perfect recipe for lasting weight loss.

The National Weight Control Registry tracks 3,000 people who have lost more than 30 pounds and kept it off for more than a year.

They have discovered that most of the successful dieters have four behaviors in common: they keep a food journal and monitor their weight; they never skip breakfast; they get an hour of exercise almost every day; and they eat diets consisting of 24% fat, 56% carbs, and 19% lean protein.