American Attitudes Toward Dieting, Being Overweight, Are Changing

Fewer Americans are dieting now than at any time in the last three decades, according to market researcher NPD Group. The number of women on a diet has dropped by 10 percent – from 34 percent in 1992 to 23 percent in 2012. One of the key problems is that people give up on diets faster than in the past. In 2004, two thirds of dieters stuck to their diet for at least six months. That number is down to 62 percent now. Another trend: being overweight is not necessarily considered unattractive. In 2012, 23 percent of Americans agreed that slim and trim people look a lot more attractive. But in 1985, 55 percent of Americans felt that way.