Being obese or overweight is becoming the new normal, with a new American study finding fewer people are trying to lose weight.

Nearly 66 per cent of Americans are now overweight or obese, compared with 62 per cent in 2004 and 53 per cent in 1994.

Being overweight or obese is the new normal, says American research, and fewer people are trying to lose weight. Credit:World Obesity Federation

Australians are not far behind: Nearly 64 per cent are obese or overweight, found a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare last December.

Yet the number of Americans trying to lose weight had fallen, says a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association'sMarch 7 edition.