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How would you describe your own personal weight situation right now -- very overweight, somewhat overweight, about right, somewhat underweight, or very underweight?

Very
over-
weight

Some-
what
over-
weight

About
right

Some-
what
under-
weight

Very
under-
weight

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 10-13

6

36

52

5

*

*

2007 Nov 11-14

5

36

52

6

*

1

2007 Jul 12-15

5

37

52

4

1

1

2006 Nov 9-12

4

37

53

4

1

*

2006 Jul 6-9

6

40

49

4

*

*

2005 Nov 7-10

5

37

53

4

1

*

2005 Jul 7-10

4

38

52

5

1

*

2004 Nov 7-10

5

36

54

5

*

*

2004 Jul 8-11

5

39

50

5

1

*

2003 Nov 3-5

4

37

53

5

1

*

2003 Jul 7-9

4

39

50

5

1

1

2002 Nov 11-14

6

36

51

5

1

1

2002 Jul 9-11

6

34

55

5

*

*

2001 Nov 8-11

6

38

51

4

*

1

2001 Jul 19-22

5

41

49

5

*

*

1999 Jul 22-25

4

35

53

6

1

1

1990 Oct 11-14

7

41

46

5

1

*

* Less than 0.5%

What is your approximate current weight?

124 lbs.
or less

125-149
lbs.

150-174
lbs.

175-199
lbs.

200 lbs.
and over

No
opin-
ion

Aver-
age
weight

%

%

%

%

%

%

National adults

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

6

19

22

20

28

5

178

2007 Nov 11-14

8

19

23

21

24

4

174

2006 Nov 9-12

8

19

23

22

23

5

175

2005 Nov 7-10

9

19

24

19

25

4

173

2004 Nov 7-10

8

19

25

20

24

4

173

2003 Nov 3-5

8

21

21

22

24

4

174

2002 Nov 11-14

9

22

22

18

25

4

173

2001 Nov 8-11

8

20

24

22

22

4

171

2001 Jul 19-22

8

19

26

20

22

5

173

1999 Jul 22-25

11

19

25

20

20

4

170

1990 Oct 11-14

12

27

27

16

15

3

161

Men

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

1

4

19

29

46

1

202

2007 Nov 11-14

1

8

24

32

32

3

191

2006 Nov 9-12

1

6

21

32

38

2

194

2005 Nov 7-10

1

7

24

27

40

1

193

2004 Nov 7-10

*

7

23

30

39

1

191

2003 Nov 3-5

1

7

19

34

38

1

195

2002 Nov 11-14

1

8

25

24

41

1

193

2001 Nov 8-11

1

8

22

33

35

1

189

2001 Jul 19-22

3

8

26

28

34

1

188

1999 Jul 22-25

1

6

27

31

33

2

190

1990 Oct 11-14

2

11

35

27

25

*

180

Women

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

11

32

25

12

11

8

156

2007 Nov 11-14

15

30

22

11

18

5

159

2006 Nov 9-12

14

31

26

13

9

6

155

2005 Nov 7-10

17

30

24

11

12

6

154

2004 Nov 7-10

16

29

27

11

11

6

156

2003 Nov 3-5

15

34

23

10

11

6

153

2002 Nov 11-14

15

35

21

12

10

7

153

2001 Nov 8-11

15

31

26

11

11

6

153

2001 Jul 19-22

13

29

26

12

12

8

158

1999 Jul 22-25

20

32

24

9

8

7

150

1990 Oct 11-14

21

42

20

7

5

5

142

What is your approximate current height?

5'0"
or
less

5'1"-
5'3"

5'4"-
5'6"

5'7"-
5'8"

5'9"-
5'11"

6'0"-
6'3"

6'4"
or
taller

No
opinion

Avg.

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

National adults

2007 Nov/Dec

5

13

24

16

21

18

2

1

5'8"

2007 Nov

5

15

24

15

22

16

1

2

5'7"

2006 Nov

3

14

27

13

21

18

2

1

5'7"

2005 Nov

4

16

24

16

21

17

2

*

5'7"

2004 Nov

2

17

25

14

23

17

1

1

5'7"

2003 Nov

4

13

26

15

23

15

3

2

5'7"

2001 Nov

3

15

27

16

20

15

3

1

5'8"

Men

2007 Nov/Dec

--

1

6

14

35

38

4

1

5'11"

2007 Nov

1

2

7

19

34

33

3

2

5'10"

2006 Nov

1

1

9

10

37

35

5

1

5'10"

2005 Nov

1

2

8

17

34

35

3

*

5'10"

2004 Nov

*

2

7

14

40

34

2

1

5'10"

2003 Nov

*

1

9

13

39

31

6

1

5'10"

2001 Nov

--

1

7

17

36

31

7

1

5'11"

Women

2007 Nov/Dec

10

25

39

17

8

*

--

1

5'5"

2007 Nov

8

27

40

12

11

*

--

2

5'4"

2006 Nov

5

27

43

16

6

2

--

1

5'5"

2005 Nov

7

29

40

14

9

*

--

1

5'5"

2004 Nov

3

32

40

15

8

1

--

1

5'5"

2003 Nov

7

24

41

18

7

1

--

3

5'4"

2001 Nov

5

28

44

16

6

*

*

1

5'5"

* Less than 0.5%

[BODY MASS INDEX]

<20
(under-
weight)

20-25
(normal)

26-30
(over-
weight)

30+
(obese)

Missing

National adults

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

5

28

37

25

5

2007 Nov 11-14

6

32

36

22

4

2006 Nov 9-12

6

31

38

20

5

2005 Nov 7-10

7

32

36

21

4

2004 Nov 7-10

6

32

39

20

3

2003 Nov 3-5

4

36

35

20

5

2001 Nov 8-11

5

36

36

18

5

Men

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

3

20

46

30

2

2007 Nov 11-14

3

29

47

17

4

2006 Nov 9-12

3

27

45

22

3

2005 Nov 7-10

2

26

47

23

2

2004 Nov 7-10

2

28

50

18

2

2003 Nov 3-5

3

28

45

23

1

2001 Nov 8-11

3

32

46

17

2

Women

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

7

35

28

21

9

2007 Nov 11-14

9

35

25

26

5

2006 Nov 9-12

9

36

32

17

7

2005 Nov 7-10

11

39

26

18

6

2004 Nov 7-10

9

35

29

21

6

2003 Nov 3-5

6

43

26

17

8

2001 Nov 8-11

6

39

28

19

8

NOTE: Body Mass Index is a ratio of one's weight to their height. It is calculated as a person's weight (in kilograms) divided by their height (in meters) squared.

Have you, personally, ever attempted to lose weight in your lifetime, or not?

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

76%

24

*

* Less than 0.5%

(Asked of those who have attempted to lose weight in their lifetime) Thinking about your attempts to lose weight, do you think your close friends or family members generally do more to help you or more to hinder you?

More to help

More to hinder

No opinion

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

68%

24

8

(Asked of those who have attempted to lose weight in their lifetime) When you have made attempts to lose weight in the past, have your close friends or family members ever -- [RANDOM ORDER] -- or have they never done this?

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2
(sorted by "yes, have")

Yes,
have

No,
have not

No
opinion

%

%

%

Complimented you on how you looked as a result of losing weight

88

11

1

Partnered with you in exercising

60

39

1

Partnered with you in dieting

52

47

*

Tried to avoid eating fattening foods in front of you

31

68

1

Teased you about what you were eating

28

72

--

Tried to make you feel guilty about what you were eating if you went off your diet

27

73

*

Tried to get you to cheat on your diet

25

75

--

Tried to persuade you to do something besides exercising at a time when you were planning to exercise

24

76

*

* Less than 0.5%

If you were trying to lose weight, would you want someone to partner with you on your weight loss program, or not?

Yes

No

No opinion

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2

57%

42

2

Would you like to [ROTATED: lose weight, stay at your present weight, or put on weight]?

Lose
weight

Put on
weight

Stay at
present

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

National adults

2007 Nov 11-14

60

7

33

*

2006 Nov 9-12

58

5

36

*

2006 Feb 9-12

56

4

39

1

2005 Nov 7-10

60

8

32

*

2004 Nov 7-10

62

5

33

*

2003 Nov 3-5

60

8

32

*

2002 Nov 11-14

58

8

34

*

2001 Jul 19-22

59

7

34

*

1999 Jul 22-25

52

9

39

*

1996 Feb 23-25

55

4

41

*

1990 Oct 18-21

52

7

40

1

1957 Aug 29-Sep 4

35

11

49

5

1955 Jun 24-29

37

13

48

2

1954 Jul 2-7

35

14

50

1

1953 Feb 1-5

37

13

49

1

1951

31

17

50

2

Men

2007 Nov 11-14

51

7

42

1

2006 Nov 9-12

53

8

39

*

2006 Feb 9-12

49

6

43

1

2005 Nov 7-10

56

9

35

*

2004 Nov 7-10

56

6

38

--

2003 Nov 3-5

51

12

37

*

2002 Nov 11-14

49

11

40

*

2001 Jul 19-22

49

12

39

--

1999 Jul 22-25

44

13

43

*

1996 Feb 23-25

45

6

49

*

1990 Oct 18-21

42

10

47

1

1957 Aug 29-Sep 4

25

14

56

5

1955 Jun 24-29

24

16

58

2

1954 Jul 2-7

26

16

58

*

1953 Feb 1-5

10

20

68

2

1951

21

20

57

2

Women

2007 Nov 11-14

68

7

26

*

2006 Nov 9-12

64

2

34

*

2006 Feb 9-12

63

2

35

--

2005 Nov 7-10

64

6

30

*

2004 Nov 7-10

67

4

29

*

2003 Nov 3-5

68

4

28

--

2002 Nov 11-14

66

4

30

*

2001 Jul 19-22

68

2

30

*

1999 Jul 22-25

58

5

37

*

1996 Feb 23-25

63

3

34

*

1990 Oct 18-21

61

4

34

1

1957 Aug 29-Sep 4

45

8

42

5

1955 Jun 24-29

49

10

38

3

1954 Jul 2-7

45

12

42

1

1953 Feb 1-5

43

11

45

1

1951

44

12

43

1

* Less than 0.5%

What do you think is the ideal body weight for you, personally?

124 lbs.
or less

125-149
lbs.

150-174
lbs.

175-199
lbs.

200 lbs.
and over

No
opin-
ion

Aver-
age
weight

%

%

%

%

%

%

National adults

2007 Nov 11-14

11

30

25

21

10

4

157

2006 Nov 9-12

11

31

26

21

11

2

158

2005 Nov 7-10

14

27

26

19

10

4

157

2004 Nov 7-10

13

30

26

19

10

2

156

2003 Nov 3-5

12

33

21

20

12

2

157

2002 Nov 11-14

15

28

24

18

11

4

157

2001 Jul 19-22

11

31

26

20

9

3

156

1999 Jul 22-25

13

31

23

19

12

3

157

1990 Oct 11-14

18

32

24

16

6

4

149

Men

2007 Nov 11-14

2

9

28

38

19

4

178

2006 Nov 9-12

1

7

31

40

21

1

180

2005 Nov 7-10

1

7

31

36

20

5

179

2004 Nov 7-10

2

6

35

37

19

1

178

2003 Nov 3-5

1

9

27

39

23

2

181

2002 Nov 11-14

1

8

31

34

24

2

181

2001 Jul 19-22

2

8

31

38

19

2

177

1999 Jul 22-25

*

8

28

37

23

3

180

1990 Oct 11-14

1

10

41

33

12

3

171

Women

2007 Nov 11-14

19

51

21

4

1

4

138

2006 Nov 9-12

20

53

21

3

1

3

138

2005 Nov 7-10

26

46

21

3

1

3

136

2004 Nov 7-10

22

52

19

3

1

3

136

2003 Nov 3-5

22

55

16

3

1

3

135

2002 Nov 11-14

27

46

17

3

1

6

134

2001 Jul 19-22

20

51

22

3

*

4

137

1999 Jul 22-25

25

52

17

3

1

2

136

1990 Oct 11-14

32

51

10

2

*

5

129

* Less than 0.5%

At this time are you seriously trying to lose weight?

Yes

No

No opinion

%

%

%

National adults

2007 Nov 11-14

28

72

*

2006 Nov 9-12

28

71

1

2005 Nov 7-10

27

73

*

2004 Nov 7-10

29

71

*

2003 Nov 3-5

28

72

*

2002 Nov 11-14

24

75

1

2001 Jul 19-22

25

75

*

1999 Jul 22-25

20

80

*

1996 Feb 23-25

26

74

*

1990 Oct 18-21

18

82

*

1955

17

83

*

1953

25

75

*

1951

19

81

*

Men

2007 Nov 11-14

23

77

1

2006 Nov 9-12

24

75

1

2005 Nov 7-10

23

77

*

2004 Nov 7-10

23

77

--

2003 Nov 3-5

21

79

*

2002 Nov 11-14

19

80

1

2001 Jul 19-22

17

82

1

1999 Jul 22-25

16

84

*

1996 Feb 23-25

22

78

*

1990 Oct 18-21

11

88

1

Women

2007 Nov 11-14

32

67

*

2006 Nov 9-12

32

67

*

2005 Nov 7-10

30

70

*

2004 Nov 7-10

34

66

*

2003 Nov 3-5

35

65

*

2002 Nov 11-14

30

70

*

2001 Jul 19-22

32

68

0

1999 Jul 22-25

24

76

*

1996 Feb 23-25

30

70

*

1990 Oct 18-21

24

76

*

* Less than 0.5%

In general, how harmful do you feel obesity is to adults who are significantly overweight -- very harmful, somewhat harmful, not too harmful, or not at all harmful?


Very
harmful

Some-
what
harmful


Not too
harmful

Not at all
harmful


Depends
(vol.)


No
opinion

2007 Jul 12-15

83%

15

*

*

*

1

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

Has obesity ever been a cause of serious health problems in your family?

Yes

No

No opinion

2007 Jul 12-15

28%

71

1

Which of the following statements better describes your view toward people who are obese -- [ROTATED: you are unsympathetic toward people who are obese because they do not lose weight even though they know being overweight is harmful to their health, (or) you are sympathetic toward people who are obese because you understand that it is difficult for them to lose weight even if they want to]?

Unsympathetic
toward obese

Sympathetic
toward obese

Both/
Mixed
(vol.)

No
opinion

2007 Jul 12-15

21%

74

4

1

Would you like to [ROTATED: lose weight, stay at your present weight, or put on weight]?

Would you like to lose a lot of weight, or only a little weight?

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Lose a lot
of weight

Lose only a
little weight

Stay at
present

Put on
weight

No
opinion

2006 Feb 9-12

18%

38

39

4

1

If you had to choose, would you be more likely to try to lose weight -- [ROTATED: by dieting, (or more likely to try to lose weight) by exercising]?

[BASED ON ADULTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO LOSE WEIGHT]

Dieting

Exercising

No opinion

2006 Feb 9-12

36%

61

3

As you may know, some people have had surgery to reduce the size of their stomach as a means of losing weight. Which of the following best describes you -- [ROTATED: you would definitely like to have this surgery, you might be interested in having it but don't know for sure, you would only consider having it as a last resort, (or) you would never have this surgery]?

[BASED ON ADULTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO LOSE WEIGHT]

Definitely
like to
have
surgery

Might be
interested

Only as last
resort

Never have
this surgery

No
opinion

2006 Feb 9-12

2%

1

20

75

2

How many hours of exercise -- that is, exercise that increases your heart rate and breathing -- did you get in the last seven days, or didn't you have the chance to do any exercise? [OPEN-END]

2006 Feb 9-12

%

None

29

1-2 hours

21

3-4 hours

17

5 hours or more

31

No answer

3

Mean

5.8

Median

2.0

How often do you worry about your weight? Would you say you worry all of the time, some of the time, not too often or never?

All of
the time

Some of
the time

Not
too often


Never

No
opinion

National adults

%

%

%

%

%

2005 Jul 7-10

15

34

29

22

*

1999 Jul 22-25

15

27

34

24

*

1990 Oct 11-14

7

27

33

33

*

Men

2005 Jul 7-10

8

31

29

31

1

1999 Jul 22-25

10

21

41

28

*

1990 Oct 11-14

2

19

33

46

*

Women

2005 Jul 7-10

20

37

28

15

--

1999 Jul 22-25

20

32

29

19

--

1990 Oct 11-14

13

33

32

22

*

* Less than 0.5%

How many different times, if any, have you seriously tried to lose weight in your life?

Once or
twice

Three-
ten
times

More than
ten times

Never

No
opin-
ion

Mean

National adults

%

%

%

%

%

2005 Jul 7-10

24

28

11

34

3

7

1999 Jul 22-25

25

25

8

40

2

5

1990 Oct 11-14

30

18

5