Q: I dont think its fair to classify someone as 'overweight' if they weigh just one more pound than their ideal weight.That is the standard that is used when you hear statistics which say that 62% of americans are overweight. its blown way out of proportion.

A: Overweight is defined as weighing more than the upper limit of acceptable weight range, not just more than the ideal weight. For example, for a six-foot person (man or woman) overweight is being 185 pounds or more. For a five-foot-six person, it's being above 155 pounds.

I do agree that this definition, which is based entirely on height and weight is imperfect. One that's based on body fat percentage would be far more appropriate. Unfortunately measuring body fat accurately is not easy (those scales and electronic devices that claim to measure body fat can easily be off by 5% or more). Because of that we're stuck with the old height-weight definition for being overweight and going by it many or most weightlifters, football players, wrestlers, gymnasts, sprinters, and other power and strength atheletes are classified as overweight even though their extra weight is mostly or all muscle and they're far healthier and more fit than an average person.

But even though I disagree with the method, I do completely agree that majority of Americans ARE in fact overweight. I think that the ever-increasing healthcare costs and incidences of the heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, and many other illnesses are an excellent proof that many Americans lifestyles, diets, and lack of exercise are leading to serious health issues. It is a real problem, probably one of the most serious ones facing our nation, and it's being largely ignored.