Americans are getting fatter and fatter—and not just because it’s the holidays. A new federal report released Thursday says American men and women of all ages have gotten heavier and thicker during the 21st century so far. Women’s average waists grew over 2 inches—from 36.3 in 1999-2000 to 38.6 inches in 2015-16—while men’s have stretched just over an inch, from 39.0 to 40.2 inches during the same 17-year period. The report was based on data gathered through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which looked at weight, height, waist circumference, and body-mass index in about 45,000 Americans over 20 years old. “It’s what your grandma would have told you, and hearing it from a professor now is no less important,” said Shailendra Patel from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. “You need a varied diet, a balanced diet, with smaller portions. Your plate should look colorful, and you need to be exercising at least three times a week.”
