Interesting Changes in Two Male Stats From 1960 to 2010

[Guest Tristan]

A recent study shows the following changes in the weight and waist size of American men:

 

Average Weight:

 

1960 - 166 lbs

2010 - 195 lbs

 

Average Waist Size:

 

1960 - 35 inches

2010 - about 38 inches

 

The changes were attributed to the huge portions of higly caloric food that Americans now consume.

[KMEM]

We all need to stay away from those HIGLY caloric foods. They are killers.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Guest OCBeachbody]

Well also you can contribute that to the sedentary lifestyle, as well as all the unnecessary pharmaceuticals people take.

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

Tristan, did your source mention any change in height as well?

If you've ever visited a pioneer village, you can easily see that we're taller than they were then. I'm curious as to whether that trend still continues.

[MsGuy]

Don't know about Canada, but...

 

In the States folks are taller & also proportionately heavier.

 

 

The report, Mean Body Weight, Height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 1960-2002: United States, shows that the average height of a man aged 20-74 years increased from just over 5'8" in 1960 to 5'9½" in 2002, while the average height of a woman the same age increased from slightly over 5'3" 1960 to 5'4" in 2002.

 

Meanwhile, the average weight for men aged 20-74 years rose dramatically from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002, while the average weight for women the same age increased from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 pounds in 2002.

 

Though the average weight for men aged 20-39 years increased by nearly 20 pounds over the last four decades, the increase was greater among older men:

Men between the ages of 40 and 49 were nearly 27 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.

 

Men between the ages of 50 and 59 were nearly 28 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.

Men between the ages of 60 and 74 were almost 33 pounds heavier on average in 2002 compared to 1960.

 

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcare/a/tallbutfat.htm

 

Just speaking anecdotally, in my cub scout den (11 kids), one was Tubby (his nick name ), one was stout muscular and the rest were average to skinny. About a month ago, I was arguing with a buddy at my local truck stop/coffee shop about whether kids today are overweight, so I suggested we compare the next 11 kids through the door using the scouts as a base. One was skinny, 5 were average, 5 were clearly overweight.

 

I'm not really satisfied with any of explanations on offer but that's it's not really arguable whether people are heavier now a days.

[Mark Gordon]

The most significant statistic quoted above is the increase in average waist size, which denotes obesity. A person's absolute weight can also increase as they become more muscular, without gaining fat.

[MsGuy]

Mark, considering that 50 years ago a much higher proportion of the general population were engaged in manual labor, it's improbable that increased muscle mass accounts for the weight gain.

[Toulouse]

Just Curious...

 

Any stats on how our average weight and waist size compares to men in Canada and Mexico? Are American men fatter or leaner than our North American neighbors?

[Mark Gordon]

Mark, considering that 50 years ago a much higher proportion of the general population were engaged in manual labor, it's improbable that increased muscle mass accounts for the weight gain.

 

MsGuy, yes absolutely true. I was not suggesting that I thought the proportional increases in weight in the general population were due to increased muscle mass. We all know from observation and general knowledge that this is not so. I was merely pointing out that, of the statistics quoted, the most significant was the increase in waist size, as increases in absolute weight can, in the absence of other statistical information, be otherwise explained. Individuals, such as myself, can experience weight gain as muscle mass, without a change in waist size. It is the fitness goal of many overweight people to see their absolute weight drop. For others, weight gain, in the form of muscle mass, is their objective.

[instudiocity]

Diet also plays a HUGE role...

 

Fifty years ago, fast food joints were small chains not focusing on targeting kids with 3,000 calorie joyful meals. Fifty years ago, BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE was a recently understood compound that wasn't being used in the feeder and milk herds.

 

Today we eat beef and drink milk from cattle stimulated with BGH, to mention just one change in our food provisions.

 

We also drink colas sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup instead of sugar. I remember 50 years ago when you could get a cola in two sizes, 6-1/2 ounce and 10 ounce bottles and drinking the 6-1/2 ounce bottle was filling- satisfying. Now I can drink a 20 ounce cola (I don't) and still be thirsty. Funny thing about Fructose - Your body won't recognize the sugar and thus it doesn't release insulin into your blood stream so you never get the message you're full.

 

Most restaurants today can be categorized by the size of their servings. Fifty years ago, fast food joints served a 1/8 pound burger. Now they serve a 1/4 pound, 1/3 pound and 1/2 pound burgers. The quantity of food served is extremely high.

 

When I took control of my diet and exercise plan, I was shocked to learn that a meal of 300-500 calories was sufficient with 100-200 calorie snacks for a daily diet of 1,500-2,000 calories which is adequate for weight loss and weight maintenance. One meal at a fast food joint can weight in at 3,500 calories!

 

So we're stimulated to grow taller with hormones in our foodstuffs and we take on sugar without recognizing it and alot of people are eating 3 times as many calories as they're burning per day. NO WONDER WE'RE AN OBESE NATION.

[Romann]

Portions.

 

All great points. One thing that I have noticed over the last 10 years is the portion sizes that are delivered to your table when at a restaurant. They're huge! Even for myself and I eat like a machine that just cannot help but pile food in my mouth, I even have a hard time finishing off a plate of food. And EVERYTHING is bigger in TX.

 

My biological father was 400 lbs. when he died at the age of 55 which was 7 years ago and he was a perfect example of extremely unhealthy living coupled with no exercise.

[Kevin Slater]

That's nothing. Since the advent of the internet, average cock size has at least doubled.

 

Kevin Slater

[Romann]

Right!

 

That's nothing. Since the advent of the internet, average cock size has at least doubled.

 

Ahhh... gotta love "internet inches".

[josephga]

All great points. One thing that I have noticed over the last 10 years is the portion sizes that are delivered to your table when at a restaurant. They're huge! Even for myself and I eat like a machine that just cannot put food in my mouth, I even have a hard time finishing off a plate of food. And EVERYTHING is bigger in TX.

 

My biological father was 400 lbs. when he died at the age of 55 which was 7 years ago and he was a perfect example of extremely unhealthy living coupled with no exercise.

 

I had this friend. He was around the same body frame and size as you all of his life. then about 2 years ago he stopped going to the gym didn't care about his eating habits and now weighs in at 240lbs at the height of 5'7

[Romann]

Oh really?

 

I had this friend. He was around the same body frame and size as you all of his life. then about 2 years ago he stopped going to the gym didn't care about his eating habits and now weighs in at 240lbs at the height of 5'7

 

Oh yeah? What are you trying to say!?

[josephga]

Oh yeah? What are you trying to say!?

 

lol just saying imagine looking as good as you then 2 years later looking like bruce vilante. Now for myself iv experienced the opposite in life. I was very under weight as a child and teen. in high school i was 6'4 160 and people will be just as mean and cruel to someone under weight too. then i gained the weight getting up too 190 holding that for years until about 6 months ago.

[whipped guy]

Waistline advice...

 

Nutrition, diet, and proper eating coupled with exercise have been my mantra for many years. I always thought that simply exercising aerobically and with weights coupled with eating properly would control your waistline. It kept it under control, but still a certain bit of tautness was missing. Then a noted porn star gave me this bit of advice, “If you eat every day you need to train your abs every day”. He is now the other side of 40 and actually looks better today than when he was in his heyday… so the philosophy works… and I have rarely missed a day since he gave me that sage bit of advice.

[Romann]

Comparing notes.

 

in high school i was 6'4 160 and people will be just as mean and cruel to someone under weight too. then i gained the weight getting up too 190 holding that for years until about 6 months ago.

 

That brings back memories. When I was in high school, I sadly weighed 105 lbs. all the way till I was a junior in college and then I started to workout and really started to eat more. Gosh, thinking back to my days of 105 lbs., I was teased and taunted all the time.

 

Now, not so much.

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

Aww so cute..

[+ purplekow]

That brings back memories. When I was in high school, I sadly weighed 105 lbs. all the way till I was a junior in college and then I started to workout and really started to eat more. Gosh, thinking back to my days of 105 lbs., I was teased and taunted all the time.

 

Now, not so much.

I remember when I was 105 pounds 2 of the happiest weeks I ever had in kindergarten.

[Romann]

I don't even remember kindergarten...

 

I remember when I was 105 pounds 2 of the happiest weeks I ever had in kindergarten.

 

I love you just the way you are! Cute, cuddly and oh so nice.

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

purplekow I would cuddle with you any time.. You are hot!!!

I remember when I was 105 pounds 2 of the happiest weeks I ever had in kindergarten.

[Samai139]

Totally agree with all the points cited above about why American men have increased in weight and waist size from 1960 to 2010. There are some other changes in the American life-style which need consideration: more/most mothers in the work place; family meals no longer the norm; number of children living/being raised by a single parent; decline in food prepared at home; television/computer/ video games/cell phones as dominant entertainment; parents' fear of letting children be "free" when out of the home---keeping them indoors, even in the suburbs; children being driven to school rather than walking or biking; decline, IMHO, in chores at home being assigned to children; and finally---the model given to children by their parents. Aren't many parents of heavy/obese children, heavy/obese themselves??

[Guest Tristan]

Any stats on how our average weight and waist size compares to men in Canada and Mexico? Are American men fatter or leaner than our North American neighbors?

 

It appears that nobody answered your question while I was away. Sorry I couldn't get to it sooner. Here's one study:

 

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/091125/obesity-epidemic-fattest-countries

[Guest greatness]

oh my

 

Tristan~~~ I'm glad that you are back~~~ Kisses and hugs~~~

 

It appears that nobody answered your question while I was away. Sorry I couldn't get to it sooner. Here's one study:

 

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/091125/obesity-epidemic-fattest-countries