Health sector news

10 million Brits 'unaware they are obese'

7/10/2009
New research has found that ten million Brits are unaware they are obese because being fat is now seen as the 'norm'.

A YouGov poll of 2,100 adults carried out by 'Slimming World' revealed that fewer than one in 10 people believe the excess pounds they are carrying is significant enough for them to be classified as obese. YouGov says that a new phenomenon called 'the fat gap' has blurred public perception of what is a healthy weight.

The survey of over 18s also found that 52% of those who are obese believe they eat a healthy diet, suggesting the gap in perception extends to food as well as what constitutes a healthy weight.

Dr Jacquie Lavin, Slimming World's head of nutrition, said: "People who are morbidly obese are ten times more likely than healthy weight people to describe their health as 'very poor', with more than a third suffering with high blood pressure and one in four having diabetes, arthritis or asthma. They are also three times more likely than healthy weight people to suffer with depression and low self esteem.

"For years experts have agreed that losing just ten per cent body weight can lead to significant improvements in health but if people don't even realise they have a serious weight problem it can be difficult to address."