• January 12, 2012

A new Gallup report shows that obesity in America declined slightly between 2010 and 2011, from 26.6% of the population to 26.1%, reports Huffington Post.

The report uses data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which is based on self-reports of body-mass index by more than 355,000 people age 18 and older.

More Americans reported that they were of normal weight in 2011 (36.1%) as compared to 2010 (35.4%).

As in past years, those most likely to be obese are those 45 to 64, those with low incomes, and African-Americans.

Even small reductions in obesity make a major difference in healthcare and other costs for business, governments and individuals. According to Gallup's analysis, the medical conditions and other costs associated with obesity cost businesses alone about $150 billion annually. In December 2010, the Society of Actuaries estimated obesity's total costs to the U.S. economy as being as high as $270 billion annually.