49 Weight Loss Statistics of 2024 To Help You Lose Weight

• A RunPeat survey has highlighted that over 70% of Americans gained weight during Covid-related lockdowns, and over 60% said they struggled with weight maintenance [1].
• The use of wearable health technology like smartwatches and other activity trackers has fallen significantly in recent years, making it more challenging to monitor physical activity accurately [2].
• Obesity levels in Colorado are the lowest at 22.6%, while they are almost double that in West Virginia at 38.1% [3].
• According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a typical 12-month period, about half of all American adults tried to lose weight, with eating less and exercising being the most common methods tried [4].
• Even a modest 10% to 20% reduction in weight among obese adults can result in significant health benefits that can lead to a more active life [5].
• People who go on a weight loss journey with friends and family have a far higher success rate of achieving long-term health benefits [6].
• The average person tries out two different fad diets a year that they abandon after less than six months [7].
• A BMI of 25 to 30 is classed as overweight, with any BMI over 30 being in the obese range [8].
• Ideal BMI levels for a healthy adult are between 18.5 and 25, where morbidity and mortality are lowest [9].

• Men aged 40 to 49 have the highest rate of obesity at 46.4%, compared to 43.3% for women in the same age group [5].
• According to America's Health Rankings, women living in low-income households in the age group of 35 to 44 have the highest rates of obesity and resulting health issues [14].
• The trend of female obesity levels has outpaced men for several years, with obese women now outnumbering men [15].
• The gender gap towards higher female than male obesity levels usually starts developing in the formative teenage years [16].
• Studies on adolescents have revealed that weight perception is a more critical factor in mental health than the actual weight, especially in teenage girls [17].
• The average woman and man in America have a BMI of about 26.5, which is well into the overweight range [18].

Losing weight seems to be a hot topic throughout the USA, and many obese people try to take some positive actions.

Here is some data about the weight loss industry and how Americans are interacting with it.

• According to Boston Medical Center, about 45 million Americans tried to lose weight last year by spending $33 billion on products and services like weight watchers, but very few of them achieve successful weight loss [27].
• Gym memberships have increased from about 50 million in 2010 to 64 million in 2019 [28]. But a large portion of that increase is attributable to the 10% increase in the U.S. population over the same period [29].
• Weight loss demographics show that lower levels of education and income and certain ethnic minority groups are far more likely to become and remain obese [30].

Millions of people have been trying to lose weight for many years, but the statistics about success levels of achieving a healthy weight are not overly promising.

• Successful long-term weight loss is most commonly defined as losing 10% of the original weight and keeping that weight off for at least one year [38].
• Losing weight at a rate of 2 pounds per week for six months is an achievable and promising approach to trigger long-term motivation to maintain that new weight level [39].
• Studies have shown that people overestimate the effects of exercise on weight loss, with underreporting of food intake and overreporting of exercise being the main problems [40].
• Maintaining weight loss becomes easier with time as the body gets used to the new energy intake and expenditure, leading to 20% of overweight people successfully keeping a healthier weight [41].
• Weight loss plateaus are a very common burden for people to overcome, which can be related to hormone rebalancing due to weight loss. It’s not yet fully understood what influences the length of time the individuals can be at a plateau [42].

While weight loss is often a challenging journey, many factors can exacerbate the difficulty.

Statistics and studies about why people give up:

• Scientists studying contestants on the TV show The Biggest Loser have identified a marked decrease in resting metabolic rate after six years, which led to the weight piling on again [47]. This physiological adjustment is a survival mechanism where the body slows down the metabolism to conserve energy, making weight maintenance especially challenging for those who've lost a considerable amount.
• Health psychologists have identified lockdowns associated with the Covid pandemic as having negatively impacted people’s eating habits, leading to an average weight gain of 29 pounds [48].
• Socioeconomic factors also play a considerable role in people's ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For many, especially women, the high cost of nutritious food and gym memberships can be prohibitive. Long working hours, often coupled with family responsibilities, can make it difficult to dedicate time for regular exercise and meal preparation [49].

Finally, it's important to mention that weight loss and gain are complex processes involving genetic, environmental, and psychological components.

Many individuals who've tried to lose weight and have temporarily succeeded often face discouragement when they experience weight regain.

This can lead to a cycle of dieting, weight loss, and regain known as "yo-yo dieting," which can negatively impact their physical and emotional health.

Comprehensive, sustainable approaches to weight management that consider these multifaceted factors may yield more successful long-term outcomes.