Being Average

Average adult Americans are about one inch taller, but nearly a whopping 25 pounds heavier than they were in 1960, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bad news, says CDC is that average BMI (body mass index, a weight-for-height formula used to measure obesity) has increased among adults from approximately 25 in 1960 to 28 in 2002 and now in 2013 it is 34.

Meanwhile, the average weight for men aged 20-74 years rose dramatically from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to now pushing 240 pounds in 2013 , while the average weight for women the same age increased from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to now in 2013 an average weight of 180 pounds. Here are some more average facts;

• Men in their 40- 49 age group weigh 35 pounds more now in 2013 than their counter parts of the 1960’s.
• Men in their 50-59 age group weigh the same 35 pounds more than their counter parts of the 1960’s.
• Men in their 60-69 age group weigh 40 pounds heavier than their counter parts of the 1960’s.
• Women in their 40 – 49 age group weigh 35 pounds heavier than their counter parts of the 1960’s.
• Women in their 50-59 age group weigh 39 pounds heavier than their counter parts of the 1960’s.
• Women in their 60-69 age group weigh 15 pounds heavier than their counter parts of the 1960’s.

Here are some troubling statistics I have read from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

The average 10 year old boy weighed 74.3 pounds in 1963 and now a ten year old boy in 2013 weighs an average of 105 pounds. The average 10 year old girl in 1963 weighed 77.4 pounds and now in 2013 that average is 84 pounds. The average 15 year old boy in 1966 weighed 153 pounds and today in 2013 that has skyrocketed to 170 pounds and the average girl at age 15 has gone from 124.2 pounds in 1966 to now 140 pounds in 2013.

Now not to over dramatize anything, yes the height of a 10 year old has increased but insignificant compared to the weigh in percentages. In 1963 the height of a male age 10 was 55.2 inches now it is 55.7 inches and for a female of the same age 55.5 inches as compared to 57.2 inches today.

As for the 15 year old boys they have gone from 67.5 inches (5’7.5”) in 1966 to 68.8 inches (5’8.4”) and there was really no notable change in the females (63.9 inches and the same today)

What troubles me is that shooting just to be average has gotten us to where we are today. We all need to step up our games and get healthier lifestyles so that High Blood pressure, High Cholesterol, and diabetes stop becoming common place. Or your other option is to become the average American and well… be a statistic. It’s your choice.