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According to new research<\/a>, 64% of Americans believe the nation has a serious \u201cobsession problem,\u201d where people will find anything to obsess over.<\/p>\n The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults found over half obsess over food (65%) and health and fitness (55%).<\/p>\n Food obsessions include everything from air frying (46%), zero-sugar drinks (45%) and snack foods advertising themselves as healthy (44%). Proteinmaxxing (28%) and fibermaxxing (11%) were also trends that people have noticed.<\/p>\n Similar obsessions can be found in the health and fitness space: GLP-1s (57%), counting calories consumed or burned (54%) and analyzing health tech data (43%).<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the study commissioned by\u00a0Pancho\u2019s Cheese Dip<\/a>\u00a0and conducted by Talker Research, found 68% believe America would be a lot happier if people didn\u2019t obsess over their health or over their food. And 77% believe food should be fun.<\/p>\n In fact, 37% actively try to be \u201ccounterculture\u201d to whatever people are obsessing over and 57% are sick and tired of being told what they should or shouldn\u2019t be eating.<\/p>\n People compared the feeling of enjoying their favorite food, guilt-free, to relaxing on the beach (38%), having an orgasm (21%), giving the middle finger to health influencers (16%), finishing a movie marathon (12%) and their wedding day (9%).<\/p>\n Over six in 10 said it\u2019s exhausting to try and keep up with the latest health and wellness food fads and obsessions (62%) or to try and avoid foods they like just to lose a couple of pounds (61%).<\/p>\n Nearly a quarter (23%) said they frequently feel guilty or judged when they eat their favorite, not-so-healthy foods.<\/p>\n Seventy-three percent shared there\u2019s at least one health or food-related obsession or fad they wish they could permanently remove from people\u2019s minds forever: adding protein to everything, calorie counting, GLP-1s and intermittent fasting were popular choices.<\/p>\n One particular respondent said they\u2019d like to get rid of \u201cextreme crash dieting\u201d \u2014 restricting calories and\/or excluding certain foods or food groups with the goal of losing weight rapidly.<\/p>\n People believe obsessions over health and fitness or their food comes from social media influencers (57%), companies pushing ad campaigns (46%) and celebrities (41%).<\/p>\n \u201cPeople feel like they have to \u2018maxx out\u2019 every part of their lives right now,\u201d said Lindsay Amundson, VP, Head of Marketing at Pancho\u2019s Cheese Dip. \u201cWe think there\u2019s really only one thing worth \u2018maxxing\u2019\u2014 fun. Enjoy your favorite foods, enjoy your life, and don\u2019t overthink it.\u201d<\/p>\n Across multiple different scenarios, the survey found many people would rather enjoy snacking and hanging out with their friends than take on health-focused activities.<\/p>\n Close to two in three (64%), for instance, said they would rather have a margarita on the patio than a protein shake after the gym (36%). And 92% rather share their favorite foods with their friends than go to group spin classes (8%).<\/p>\n Sixty-five percent said they would rather run away from their problems than run a 5k (35%).<\/p>\n Queso was also found to be one of the ultimate \u201cI don\u2019t care if it\u2019s unhealthy, I\u2019m eating it anyway\u201d foods, receiving 12% of the popular vote. Queso was found to be most popular amongst Gen Zers and Americans living in the Southwest. And 54% of younger Americans said they would rather have chips and queso than chips and guac (46%).<\/p>\n Half of Gen Zers said their love for queso is so high, they\u2019d even be likely to drink it through a straw.<\/p>\n And many believe queso is an essential food or snack during Taco Tuesdays (49%), Superbowl Sunday (45%), Cinco de Mayo (44%), game nights (33%) and hosting friends (31%).<\/p>\n \u201cFood really should be something you enjoy and appreciate,\u201d continued Amundson. \u201cWhen you stop focusing on what you think you \u2018should\u2019 be doing, you can be more present and get \u2018maxx\u2019 enjoyment out of the experience itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Research methodology:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans who have access to the internet;<\/strong>\u00a0the survey was commissioned by\u00a0Pancho\u2019s Cheese Dip<\/strong>\u00a0and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between\u00a0Apr. 10 and Apr. 16, 2026.<\/strong>\u00a0A link to the questionnaire can be found\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR\u2019s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research\u00a0Process and Methodology page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nRebelling Against Pervasive Dietary Influences<\/b><\/h2>\n
Enjoying Your Favorite Foods Without Guilt Is Like:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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