The odds an adult often overeats junk food: 1 in 5.3
SOURCE: P Taylor, C Funk, P Craighill, Eating More; Enjoying Less, a Social Trends Report. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, April 19, 2006.
GENDER WARS
The odds a man reports he is seriously trying to lose weight: 1 in 4.8 vs. 1 in 3.1 for a woman.
SOURCE: E Mendes, “In U.S., 62% Exceed Ideal Weight, 19% at Their Goal,” Gallup Health and Healthcare Survey, November 24, 2010, http://www.gallup.com/poll/144941/Exceed-Ideal-Weight-Goal.aspx.
Growing
in the Wrong Direction
The odds an adult 20–74 is obese:
1960–1962: 1 in 7.5
1971–1974: 1 in 6.9
1976–1980: 1 in 6.7
1988–1994: 1 in 4.4
1999–2000: 1 in 3.2
2001–2002: 1 in 3.2
2003–2004: 1 in 3
2005–2006: 1 in 2.9
2007–2008: 1 in 2.9
2009–2010: 1 in 2.8
SOURCES: CL Ogden, MD Carroll, “Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Extreme Obesity Among Adults: United States, Trends 1960–1962 Through 2007–2008, “National Center for Health Statistics Health E-Stats, June 2010. CL Ogden, MD Carroll, BK Kit, KM Flegal, “Prevalence of Obesity in the United States, 2009–2010,” NCHS Data Brief 82, January 2012.
What We Think About Ourselves
The Odds of What Adults Think of Their Weight
The average man reports he weighs 195 but would like to weigh 183, while the average woman reports she weighs 159 but would like to weigh 140.
The odds a man believes he is underweight: 1 in 20
The odds a man believes he is about the right weight: 1 in 1.6
The odds a man believes he is overweight: 1 in 3.3
The odds a woman believes she is underweight: 1 in 25
The odds a woman believes she is about the right weight: 1 in 2
The odds a woman believes she is overweight: 1 in 2.2
SOURCE: E Mendes, “In U.S., 62% Exceed Ideal Weight, 19% at Their Goal,” Gallup Health and Healthcare Survey, November 24, 2010, http://www.gallup.com/poll/144941/Exceed-Ideal-Weight-Goal.aspx.
Weight
Tipping the Scales:
The Odds of a Given Weight
The odds a man 20–79 weighs:
<130 lbs: 1 in 34.9
130–139 lbs: 1 in 25.3
140–149 lbs: 1 in 19.5
150–159 lbs: 1 in 12.7
160–169 lbs: 1 in 11
170–179 lbs: 1 in 8.9
180–189 lbs: 1 in 10
190–199 lbs: 1 in 8.8
200–209 lbs: 1 in 12.1
210–219 lbs: 1 in 13.2
220–229 lbs: 1 in 17.6
230–239 lbs: 1 in 23.8
240–249 lbs: 1 in 33.9
250–259 lbs: 1 in 39.2
260–269 lbs: 1 in 60.3
270–279 lbs: 1 in 85.6
280–289 lbs: 1 in 77.3
290–299 lbs: 1 in 85.1
300–319 lbs: 1 in 127
320–339 lbs: 1 in 187
340–359 lbs: 1 in 283
360–379 lbs: 1 in 649
380–399 lbs: 1 in 1,401
400–419 lbs: 1 in 5,205
420–440 lbs: 1 in 1,676
The odds a woman 20–79 weighs:
<110 lbs: 1 in 21.9
110–119 lbs: 1 in 17.5
120–129 lbs: 1 in 11.2
130–139 lbs: 1 in 9.1
140–149 lbs: 1 in 9.1
150–159 lbs: 1 in 9.8
160–169 lbs: 1 in 11.3
170–179 lbs: 1 in 11.5
180–189 lbs: 1 in 15.6
190–199 lbs: 1 in 19.9
200–209 lbs: 1 in 25
210–219 lbs: 1 in 27.2
220–229 lbs: 1 in 31.8
230–239 lbs: 1 in 51
240–249 lbs: 1 in 58.2
250–259 lbs: 1 in 71.7
260–269 lbs: 1 in 107
270–279 lbs: 1 in 116
280–289 lbs: 1 in 304
290–299 lbs: 1 in 219
300–319 lbs: 1 in 171
320–339 lbs: 1 in 270
340–359 lbs: 1 in 730
360–379 lbs: 1 in 1,418
380–399 lbs: 1 in 5,407
400–419 lbs: 1 in 4,973
420–439 lbs: 1 in 4,973
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on weight by age from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data published in the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2012, 131st ed., Washington, DC: 2010. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab, and also U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 National Population Projections, August 2008.
When It Comes to the Perfect Size,
Can We Believe Our Eyes?
Several magazine editors have admitted to engaging in a practice dubbed “reverse retouching”: using computer techniques to erase signs of malnutrition, like jutting bones, sunken eyes, and acne, from their models.
What makes the practice particularly insidious is that women who are too thin to be judged attractive are airbrushed to look beautiful—all by having the markers of good health artificially applied. The final product is the image of a woman who looks both extremely thin (yet without the skeletal look of a starvation victim) and glowing (dry hair, sallow complexion, and pimples are all fixed through computer magic). Too bad the millions of women who unfavorably compare themselves to this brand of artificial perfection are often unaware of the depth of deception.
SOURCES: L Hardy, “A Big Fat (and Very Dangerous) Lie: A Former Cosmo Editor Lifts the Lid on Airbrushing Skinny Models to Look Healthy,” Daily Mail, May 20, 2010, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1279766/Former-Cosmo-editor-LEAH-HARDY-airbrushing-skinny-models-look-healthy-big-fat-dangerous-lie.html. S Coates, “Don’t Airbrush Advertisements Aimed at Teens, Say Lib Dems,” The Times, August 2, 2009.
You Can Be Too Thin
The odds a man has ever been diagnosed with:
binge-eating disorder 1 in 50
bulimia nervosa 1 in 200
anorexia nervosa 1 in 333
The odds a woman has ever been diagnosed with:
binge-eating disorder 1 in 28.6
bulimia nervosa 1 in 66.7
anorexia nervosa 1 in 111
Everyone knows that eating disorders are dangerous, but just how risky they are may surprise some of us. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with anorexia are up to ten times more likely to die as a result of the illness compared to people without it.
SOURCES: E Hiripi, JI Hudson, RC Kessler, HG Pope, “The Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication,” Biological Psychiatry 61, 2007: 348–358. National Institute of Mental Health, Eating Disorders, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml.
The odds a man will report he feels unattractive when he is out of shape: 1 in 2.3
SOURCE: “What Are the Rules of Attraction?” Elle/MSNBC.com Sex and Beauty Survey, Elle magazine, 2004.
The odds a woman will undress in front of her partner: 1 in 1.2
SOURCE: DA Frederick, A Peplau, J Lever, “The Barbie Mystique,” International Journal of Sexual Health 20(3), March 2008: 200–212.
GENDER WARS
Cosmetic Procedure Odds
The odds a surgical cosmetic procedure will be performed on a:
female 13 and over in a year: 1 in 1.2
male 13 and over in a year: 1 in 7.5
Distribution by gender of surgical cosmetic procedures performed in a year on people 13 and over:
SOURCES: Book of Odds estimates based on American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Report of the 2011 Plastic Surgery Statistics, ASPS Public Relations, 2012, and International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, 2011 Practice Census Results, conducted by Relevant Research, July 2011.
The Odds an Obese Person Who Has Weight-Loss Surgery
Will Have:
<
br /> Gastric bypass: 1 in 1.1
Malabsorptive surgery: 1 in 9.6
Gastroplasty: 1 in 13.4
Gastrectomy: 1 in 23.4
SOURCE: HP Santry, DL Gillen, DS Lauderdale, “Trends in Bariatric Surgical Procedures,” Journal of the American Medical Association 294(15), October 19, 2005:1909–1917.
GENDER WARS
The odds a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure will be performed on a female 13 and over in a year are 1 in 1.1, versus 1 in 11.6 for a male 13 and over.
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimates based on American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Report of the 2011 Plastic Surgery Statistics, ASPS Public Relations, 2012.
The odds a person who has weight-loss surgery is a male are 1 in 6.3 vs. 1 in 1.2 a female.
SOURCE: HP Santry, DL Gillen, DS Lauderdale, “Trends in Bariatric Surgical Procedures,” Journal of the American Medical Association 294(15), October 19, 2005:1909–1917.
The Odds on Cosmetic Surgery
“If Money Were No Object”
The odds a person reports he or she would have a surgical or nonsurgical cosmetic procedure if money were not an issue:
woman: 1 in 1.3
If money were not an issue the odds a woman reports she would have:
a teeth-whitening procedure: 1 in 2.8
a tummy tuck: 1 in 3.2
vision correction surgery: 1 in 3.7
a hair removal procedure: 1 in 3.7
liposuction: 1 in 4.9
a breast lift: 1 in 4.9
cellulite treatment: 1 in 6.1
vein treatment: 1 in 7.1
a facelift: 1 in 7.5
injectible wrinkle filler: 1 in 8.5
microdermabrasion: 1 in 9.2
laser skin treatment: 1 in 11.7
a scar removed: 1 in 11.7
breast augmentation surgery: 1 in 12.8
a chemical face peel: 1 in 14.3
Botox: 1 in 14.3
a breast reduction: 1 in 16
hair replacement: 1 in 25.6
rhinoplasty: 1 in 25.6
lip augmentation (by any method): 1 in 64.1
man: 1 in 1.7
If money were not an issue the odds a man reports he would have:
a teeth-whitening procedure: 1 in 3.3
vision correction surgery: 1 in 3.8
a hair removal procedure: 1 in 9.3
liposuction: 1 in 9.3
hair replacement: 1 in 10.4
a tummy tuck: 1 in 11.1
a scar removed: 1 in 16.7
a facelift: 1 in 20.8
injectible wrinkle filler: 1 in 23.8
laser skin treatment: 1 in 23.8
vein treatment: 1 in 27.8
a chemical face peel: 1 in 33.3
microdermabrasion: 1 in 41.7
Botox: 1 in 41.7
rhinoplasty: 1 in 41.7
lip augmentation (any method): 1 in 41.7
cellulite treatment: 1 in 55.6
breast augmentation surgery: 1 in 83.3
a breast reduction: 1 in 83.3
a breast lift: 1 in 167
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on RealSelf.com survey conducted by Harris Interactive, reported in National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2010 Report of the 2009 Statistics, June 2010.
What Women Think of Their Bodies
The odds a woman 18–65 believes her body is:
SOURCE: DA Frederick, A Peplau, J Lever, “The Barbie Mystique,” International Journal of Sexual Health 20(3), March 2008: 200–212.
Appearance Important?
The odds a man will report that . . .
his “shopping style” is to buy what he stumbles across that suits him: 1 in 2.3
his “shopping style” is to buy clothes in big batches once or twice a year: 1 in 3.5
his “shopping style” is to go out looking for new clothes regularly: 1 in 4.2
his partner buys his clothes for him: 1 in 33.3
he is a compulsive buyer: 1 in 18.2
style is the most important factor governing his clothes purchases: 1 in 1.5
comfort is the most important factor governing his clothes purchases: 1 in 5.6
uniqueness is the most important factor governing his clothes purchases: 1 in 25
trendiness is the most important factor governing his clothes purchases: 1 in 33.3
price is the most important factor governing his clothes purchases: 1 in 20
ODDS COUPLE
All He Has to Do Is Be
The odds a person is male: 1 in 2.04
The odds a man thinks he is sexy: 1 in 2.04
SOURCES: Book of Odds estimate based on US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php. Synovate, “Synovate Global Male Beauty Survey Uncovers Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Appearances and Male Beauty Products,” press release, December 1, 2008.
SOURCES: Book of Odds estimate based on Karlyn Bowman’s Poll-Pourri, “We Are What We Wear,” Independent Women’s Forum, Woman’s Quarterly, Spring 2001. LM Korin, RJ Faber, E Aboujaoude, MD Large, RT Serpe, “Estimated Prevalence of Compulsive Buying Behavior in the United States,” American Journal of Psychiatry 163(10), October 2000:1806–1812.
Really Bad Hair
In case you haven’t noticed, body hair is out. Way out. And none is more out than back hair.
Body hair has been a part of humanity for as long as humans have been humans. Early hominids sported thick, dark hair over almost their entire bodies, males and females alike. Apes and monkeys retained it; we, for the most part, lost it.
No one knows exactly why humans evolved out of fur suits and into birthday suits; a leading theory is that vigorous hunting in hot climates saw our ancestors trade panting for sweating as a means of cooling ourselves—and sweating is carried out far more efficiently on a body that is covered only with the vestige of our ancestral selves: the tiny, nearly transparent fuzz covering our bodies, called vellus hair.
“Body hair” is something different. The dark, shaveable stuff is called androgenic hair or terminal hair, and it grows on the legs, pubis, arms, and armpits of nearly everyone, and the chests and faces of men. And for more than a few, on their backs and shoulders, too.
Since the dawn of metrosexuality, men have been urged to “manscape”—shave, pluck, thread, electrolyze, laser, or wax the hair away, especially that stuff that creeps up over the back of their shirt collars. So have they taken the hint?
Nah. The odds a male does not groom his back hair are 1 in 1.3. Odds a female would prefer that he do so are almost as high: 1 in 1.4. The majority of men (1 in 1.2) also do not trim their chest hair or pubic hair (1 in 1.6). However, 1 in 2.5 women prefers he trim his chest hair and 1 in 5.6 prefers he shave all his chest hair, while 1 in 2.4 prefers a man trim his pubic hair and 1 in 6.3 prefers he shave it off.
SOURCES: Remington, “Survey: Women Want Men to Do More Body Hair Grooming, Especially Below the Neck,” press release, November 12, 2009. “The Average Woman, Woman’s Health Poll,” Women’s Health 8(5), May 2011.
Women and Bad Hair Days
SOURCES: ShopSmart magazine, “ShopSmart Hair Poll Gets to the Roots: 60% Like It or Love It, 4% Hate It,” press release, April 2010. Pantene, “Pantene Pro-V Survey Finds Women Are Dissatisfied with Their Hair,” press release, March 2010.
Take It All Off
The odds a woman 18–34 describes a man with a shaved head as sexy: 1 in 2.8
The odds a woman finds baldness sexy: 1 in 12.5
SOURCES: NOP World’s Roper Public Affairs, “Bald Is Beautiful, Says Roper Study,” press release, March 14, 2005. “The Average Woman, Woman’s Health Poll,” Women’s Health 8(5), May 2011.
The odds a man does not groom his eyebrow, ear, and nose hair.
SOURCE: Remington, “Survey: Women Want Men to Do More Body Hair Grooming, Especially Below the Neck,” press release, November 12, 2009.
How Do They Match Up?
&n
bsp; The odds . . .
a man 15–30 is clean-shaven 1 in 2.2
a woman 15–30 finds him sexiest that way 1 in 2.1
a man 15–30 has facial stubble 1 in 8.3
a woman 15–30 finds him sexiest that way 1 in 33.3
a man 15–30 has a mustache 1 in 9.1
a woman 15–30 finds him sexiest that way 1 in 33.3
SOURCE: Gilette Company, “Clean Shave Gets the Rave: Survey of Attitudes About Facial Hair Reveals That ‘Less Is More,’” press release, September 24, 2003, http://www.esquire.com/women/women-issue/survey-of-american-women-0510.
The odds a woman does not own a pair of high heels: 1 in 2.6
SOURCE: Book of Odds estimate based on Karlyn Bowman’s Poll-Pourri, “We Are What We Wear,” Independent Women’s Forum, Woman’s Quarterly, Spring 2001.
Whose Men Dress Best?
The odds a man believes it is:
SOURCE: Askmen.com, “Part II: Lifestyle,” The Great Male Survey, 2010 Edition, http://www.askmen.com/specials/2010_great_male_survey/.
How People with Tattoos Feel Compared to People Without Tattoos
The odds an adult with a tattoo feels:
more rebellious: 1 in 2.8 less rebellious: 1 in 50
sexier: 1 in 3.2 less sexy: 1 in 100
more attractive: 1 in 5.3 less attractive: 1 in 33.3
stronger: 1 in 5.3 less strong: 1 in 200
more spiritual: 1 in 7.7 less spiritual: 1 in 20
more intelligent: 1 in 20 less intelligent: 1 in 50
more athletic: 1 in 20 less athletic: 1 in 100
healthier: 1 in 25 less healthy: 1 in 33.3
The odds an adult without a tattoo believes people with tattoos are:
more rebellious: 1 in 1.9 less rebellious: 1 in 33.3
sexier: 1 in 16.7 less sexy: 1 in 2.6
more attractive: 1 in 25 less attractive: 1 in 2.1
stronger: 1 in 12.5 less strong: 1 in 10
Book of Odds Page 24