Are you overweight, or just perfect?

Turns out that 30% of people who are overweight think they’re “normal.”

That’s according to the results of a poll released September 2 by Harris Interactive and HealthDay.

Most people who DID say they were overweight blamed a lack of exercise. Not that they ate too much.

What’s more…

• 70% of obese people feel they are merely overweight
• 39% of morbidly obese people feel they are overweight, but not obese

More than 2400 Americans over age 18 participated in the online survey from August 17-19, 2010.

What’s this going to mean?

Well, it seems reasonable to deduce that if you determine your weight to be acceptable, you’re likelier to feel that your health risks are less cause for concern.

Therefore, you’ll be less likely to cut back on improper food intake—both in terms of quantity and quality. You’ll eat more in general. And you’ll eat more junk (nutritionally empty calories).

Plus, you’ll probably be slower to start an exercise program. And less likely to stick with it.

Will you also get fewer medical checkups, believing yourself to be at a healthy weight or not far off?

It’s somewhat understandable

Go to the grocery store. Go to a parent’s night at most schools. Go to almost any mall…and you’ll see person after person who is overweight or obese.

It’s no wonder people start seeing themselves as at a “healthy weight.” Because there are always people walking around who are heavier than you are!

What to do?

Here’s a helpful statistic:

A waistline over 35” for women and 40” for men indicates you face a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.

So take a tape measure and see if your “normal” is actually healthy.

But, bottom line…

No matter what your weight, eating healthy and getting regular exercise make sense.   

No matter what your weight, it makes sense to get regular medical checkups and have the tests performed that tell you how you’re doing inside. These tests don’t lie.

So if you think your weight is normal and acceptable, but you’re actually prediabetic, you can do something about it before you get diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

And, hopefully, you have an honest doc you trust who will tell you when you need to lose some weight.

What you do with that advice, of course, is up to you.