People are living longer nowadays. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy was 75.

For many Americans, the cost of trying to lose weight extends well beyond the scale. A new poll of 2,000 U. S. adults actively trying to lose weight found the average respondent spent $12,308 in 2025 attempting to reach their weight and BMI goals, highlighting what many describe as a quiet but persistent "weight tax.