Is it possible to love your body and still want to lose weight?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See original research story here.

ALMOST FOUR IN FIVE (78%) AMERICANS SAY IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOVE YOUR BODY AND STILL WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT.

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THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 PEOPLE CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF WEIGHTWATCHERS. 

THEY FOUND ABOUT HALF (51%) REPORTED HAVING FELT OR EXPERIENCED BODY SHAME DUE TO THEIR WEIGHT, MOST COMMONLY FROM A FRIEND (51%), PARTNER OR SPOUSE (46%), FAMILY MEMBER (45%) OR DOCTOR (40%). 

RESPONDENTS ALSO SHARED FEELING AS IF THEY HAVE NO WILLPOWER (60%), THAT IT’S THEIR FAULT (55%) AND THAT THEY'RE LAZY (52%) AS A RESULT OF BODY SHAME. 

SO IT’S NOT SURPRISING THAT TWO IN THREE (65%) SAID THEY’RE WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO LOSE WEIGHT, NO MATTER HOW RESTRICTIVE OR UNREASONABLE THE APPROACH MIGHT SOUND.

FOR MOST RESPONDENTS, MINIMIZING THE RISK OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHT GAIN WAS THEIR TOP MOTIVATOR FOR LOSING WEIGHT, FOLLOWED BY SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE (65%) AND LOOKING AND FEELING THEIR BEST (62%).