Looks like sex has become the latest casualty in the battle of the bulge.









Nearly 50 percent of American women and a quarter of men think being skinny
is better than having sex — saying they would give up doing the deed
this summer in exchange for not gaining 10 pounds, according to a new
survey.





The survey, conducted by Nutrisystem, revealed that people
would give up an array of pleasures — including sex — in order not to
pack on the pounds.





For example, the survey found that despite the economic recession, many Americans would pass up a promotion at work for the chance to drop 10 to 20 pounds.





Many would also give up sex and get rid of their cell phones and TV sets in order to have a flat tummy.





"The fact of the matter is, America is obsessed with dieting and weight loss,
but the majority of Americans aren’t eating healthier or getting
thinner," said Joe Redling, chairman and CEO of Nutrisystem, Inc.





The survey found:







— 52 percent of women would take a summer without sex
over gaining 10 pounds; a quarter of American men (25 percent) said they
would make the same sacrifice.






— 25 percent would prefer to shed 10 to 20 pounds this summer than get promoted at work.






— 73 percent would be willing to give up their cell phones, TV or computers in exchange for a flatter tummy this summer.






The survey, which was released Thursday, also found that 29
percent of Americans have tried dieting over the past eleven months and
that 51 percent have dieted within the past two years.