People are discovering the average weight of American males, and they are surprised by the findings

Reddit users were surprised to learn that the average weight for an American man aged 20 or older is paired with an average height of 5'7"

Recently, people have discovered the average weight of an American man, and for some, it is a concerning revelation.

This statistic, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals that the average American aged 20 or older weighs an astonishing 33 pounds more than their counterparts from just over 50 years ago.

To give some context, that's roughly equivalent to the weight of a standard microwave.

Although this data was released four months ago, it recently gained attention on Reddit, where some users were informed of the news.

One user humorously remarked, "TIL [Today I learned] I weigh less than the average American even though I think I need to lose 25 pounds."

Another added, "It’s so easy to gain weight in America; I was 265-270 at my heaviest but reduced to 190 by mainly changing my eating habits."

Reddit users were surprised to learn about the condition of America's waistline

If you're 20 or older and weigh 190 pounds, you're actually nearly 10 pounds lighter than the average American, which is currently 199 pounds.

So, where does this number come from? According to CDC data, the average adult male in the US weighs just under 200 pounds, based on national health surveys.

This figure places many men on the brink of the 'overweight' category depending on their height, body composition, and activity level.

It's important to note that 'average' doesn't mean 'ideal'. The CDC highlights that a healthy weight range varies significantly based on factors like height, age, muscle mass, and body fat percentage.

The average American aged 20 and over weighs 199 pounds, with an average height of 5'7"

Tools such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist measurements are often used to assess health risk, but experts emphasize they don't provide a complete picture—someone who is fit and muscular might technically fall into the 'overweight' category without actually being unhealthy.

Regarding the weight of men in the early 1960s, the average American man over 20 weighed about 166 pounds, according to government records. Today, that's an increase of roughly 33 pounds.

This gradual rise reflects significant changes in lifestyle, diet, and daily habits.

More processed foods, increased screen time, and decreased physical activity have all contributed to modern waistlines.

To make this figure even more concerning, the average American man aged 20 and over is 5'7" tall, which would place them just below 'obese' on the BMI scale if they also weighed 199 pounds. However, as mentioned earlier, this would depend on their muscle mass, among other factors.

For US women, recent data shows their average weight is 171.8 pounds and their average height is 63.5 inches, again about 30 pounds heavier than the average weight between 1960-62.