Heading Into The Holidays, Overweight Americans Have Given Up On Diets

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- New survey data show that obese Americans have reached the depths of despair in their efforts to lose excess weight.  Nearly a third of the country's 36 million obese adults report that they have given up on diets and exercise and are doing nothing to try and lose pounds.  In addition, of those who attempted a diet and exercise program in the past year, 41% report that they failed to lose any meaningful weight from their efforts.

On the other end of the spectrum, consumers express concern about the risks of gastric bypass surgery. Nearly six in 10 obese individuals perceive this type of weight loss surgery to be a significantly riskier procedure than breast implants, liposuction or appendectomies combined.

"Obesity is the most unsuccessfully treated disease in American history and this data makes this abundantly clear," said Dan McGinn, an analyst of trends who has been tracking public attitudes on obesity for 25 years.  "Obese individuals are feeling increasingly hopeless in the fight to lose weight.  As a society we have to do more or the health consequences for individuals and the nation will be devastating."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than a third of Americans are obese (36%) and are prone to obesity-related health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.  

There is one note of hope in the survey - 96% of obese individuals recognize that losing even a small amount of weight would be beneficial to their health.

Almost half of the obese respondents are very interested in new weight loss innovations, including non-invasive surgery and new technologies to lose weight safely.  The survey data is based on 1,504 completed interviews, including a targeted sub-category of obese respondents, which numbered 563 or 37% of the total sample.  The survey was conducted online with a nationally representative, balanced panel November 8 - 10.

About McGinn & Company 
McGinn and Company is an Arlington, VA based crisis and strategic communications firm with a mission to help clients solve their most perplexing and important reputation challenges. 

About Repass & Partners, Inc. 
Repass & Partners, Inc. is a custom survey research and strategic consulting firm based in Cincinnati.  The firm's services range from consulting with clients to identify research objectives, through study design, data collection, analysis, and research-based strategy recommendations. 

SOURCE McGinn and Company