When it comes to weight loss, more would rather change what they eat than get in the gym

Hoang NguyenData Journalist
February 07, 2018, 3:00 PM GMT+0

Over half of Americans (54%) say they’re usually trying to lose weight

Extensive research into weight loss often concludes that diet plays more of an active role in losing weight than exercise. And if given a choice between eating better or working out to lose weight, a new YouGov poll reveals that slightly more Americans prefer to change and/or reduce what they eat (46%) than exercise more (44%).

Men and women pick different weight loss methods. Research from YouGov Omnibus shows that half of women are likelier to change their diets (51%) than choose to exercise more (40%). Men, on the other hand, are more like to elect to work out (48%) than change how they eat (41%).

Americans living in the West are the only ones to say they prefer to exercise more (47%) than change their diet (41%). Their three other regional counterparts all say if given the choice, they would rather change their diet to lose weight.

Data from YouGov Profiles uncovers conflicting attitudes towards health and fitness. While over half of Americans (56%) consider themselves healthy eaters, a third (34%) say they’re not and about the same number say they don’t exercise at least once a week (33%). Weight loss is a heavy thought on many minds though. Over half report that they are usually trying to lose weight (54%) and nearly the same amount (58%) admit they don’t look after their health as much as they should.



Read more results from this poll


Learn more about YouGov Omnibus

Photo: Getty

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