Seven of 10 respondents who were identified as seriously overweight said their excess pounds were not a health concern, even though a third already had developed a weight-related medical problem. And 60% of obese respondents did not believe that their weight posed health risks.
"It's very disappointing and scary, because statistics show a rising prevalence of obesity," said Barbara J. Moore, PhD, president of Shape Up America!, which commissioned the survey.
"If people don't see obesity as a health issue, I don't see how we're going to turn this around."
The survey of 1,651 Americans was conducted for the nonprofit organization founded by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD, to educate the public about obesity. It focused on 547 respondents with body mass index scores of 27 or higher. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared. A BMI of 27 is considered overweight; 31 or higher, obese.
"This survey is a wake-up call that we need to work harder to communicate the facts to the nearly 50% of the population that is overweight or obese."
Government data estimate that 60 million Americans have a BMI over 27, which is 150 pounds or more for a woman 5 feet-5 inches, and 174 pounds for a man 5 feet-10 inches. About 35% of women, 31% of men and 25% of children are overweight or obese.
Obesity-related illnesses kill more than 300,000 Americans annually and is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking, according to the American Obesity Assn.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Oct. 7 found that overweight Americans faced a higher rate of premature death, with the risk rising when the BMI hits 25. The strongest link was between excess weight and death from cancer and cardiovascular disease.
But patients often fail to see the connection between statistics and their own personal health status. Many people consider excess weight to be only an issue of cosmetics.
"For the most part, patients recognize from their discomfort and appearance that they're overweight, but they usually aren't worried about the health consequences," said Neil Brooks, MD, a family physician in Vernon, Conn.
"They are in denial about the seriousness of the problem."
A Bit of Good Information
