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CDC: Americans Getting Heavier, Average Woman Weighs As Much As 1960s Man

Posted by samzenpus on from the bigger-is-not-always-better dept.

schwit1 writes: New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the average American has packed on the pounds in the past 50 years. Both men and women have gained a considerable amount of weight since 1960, with the average American woman now weighing 166.2 pounds — nearly identical to what American men weighed in the 1960s. U.S. men have been getting bigger too, gaining nearly 30 pounds from the 1960s to 2010 — 166.3 pounds to 195.5 pounds today. The good news is that both sexes have gained almost an inch in height since then, so that accounts for some of the overall weight gain.

7 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Comparing apples to miniature oranges by rockout · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know you don't read the article in your giddy rush to get first post, but christ, that exact point was made in the fucking summary.

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    I've learned that they're worthless, so I don't read AC comments anymore.
  2. Mostly because our food is shit. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Honestly 90% of what we consumer is not food but just piles of sugar coated shit.

    Stop eating at any restaurants, Stop eating anything that comes in a box or Bag. Hell even our bread is so sweet that most europeans call it cake.

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    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Mostly because our food is shit. by rainmaestro · · Score: 5, Interesting

      A couple years ago I decided to give up refined sugar in general for a few months, particularly soda (like any good dev, I consumed more than my share of the stuff). After 3 months without, I drank a Dr. Pepper (my favorite) and it was disgusting. Tasted like a mouthful of sugar. Amazing how much you become desensitized to sugar, and the same holds for salt.

      The real surprise was one day when I discovered that carrots are actually sweet. They just don't seem that way when you consume a metric ton of refined sugar every week. That really made me start wondering just how badly my perception of foods had been corrupted over the years.

  3. Which Woman Did They Check? by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Funny

    If her name was Caitlyn and she had big manly hands, it's likely your average woman WAS a 1960s man.

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    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  4. HOwever... by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The one-inch gain in height was dwarfed (so to speak) by the six-inch gain in heights listed on online dating sites.

  5. Re:Point was made but wrong by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Informative

    If nothing else he was correcting a bad summary.

    No he isn't. The summary is correct, and he is wrong. Americans are one inch taller than in 1960, not two inches. In 1960 the average man was 5'8", today he is 5'9". The average women went from 5'3" to 5'4".

  6. Re:Comparing apples to miniature oranges by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

    bigger tits.

    Unfortunately, they're mainly on men.

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