This shift in body size is reflected in statistics from the CDC, showing the average American woman now weighs around 170.6 pounds, compared to 140 pounds in the 1960s. Factors like sedentary lifestyles, larger portion sizes, and processed foods are key contributors, as are cultural shifts toward accepting larger bodies.
Social media has played a part in both celebrating body diversity and influencing lifestyle habits, some of which may contribute to weight gain. While promoting inclusivity, the rise in social media-driven sedentary behavior has been linked to increasing obesity rates, which the World Health Organization says have doubled since 1990.