( Reader 's Digest ) -- Brazilians feel the most pressure to lose weight and be thin , according to an international poll . Eighty-three percent of those polled in Brazil said they felt the pressure to be slimmer , followed by India ( 68 percent ) , the U.S. ( 62 percent ) and France ( 55 percent ) , according to the survey , commissioned by Reader 's Digest for its February issue . The poll of 16,000 people across 16 countries suggests most of us believe too much emphasis is put on being slim . Even so , most have tried to lose weight . And , everywhere , women are significantly more likely than men to feel the pressure . Russians are the most likely to turn to cigarettes to lose weight ( 23 percent of men and 18 percent of women ) , while Mexicans are most likely to choose a healthier diet or physical exercise . The poll also shows that France blames the prevalence of fast-food in the U.S. for Americans ' growing girths -- and many Americans agree , with almost three-quarters of those polled in the U.S. admitting their eating habits promote obesity . Meanwhile , 51 percent of married American women wish their husbands were thinner with 47 percent of American husbands wishing the same of their spouses . According to the World Health Organization , more people in the world now die from being overweight and obese than being underweight . It says there are about 1.6 billion overweight or obese people in the world and at least 2.5 million deaths are associated with these conditions annually . `` Although the universal weight struggle is clear from our poll results , obesity is not our collective destiny , '' said Reader 's Digest VP/Global Editor-in-Chief Peggy Northrop . `` Most cultures have some custom that can keep people lean , from a bottle of mineral water on most restaurant tables in Europe to the downsizing of supersizing portions in the UK . There is a huge opportunity to learn from each other how to eat healthy . '' For more results on the Reader 's Digest Global Diet Poll and related content , visit the Reader 's Digest site .
World Health Organization : More people die from being overweight , obese than underweight . Comment: Of those quizzed , Brazilians feel most pressure to be slimmer . Poll : Russians are the most likely to turn to cigarettes to lose weight .