Survey shows many Australians failing to connect obesity and health risk
Release date: November 16th, 2007
Many Australians are failing to make the connection between obesity and the risk it poses to their health, according to the latest MBF Healthwatch survey.
The national survey of 1,200 people found that 70% rated their health as excellent, very good or good. But at the same time nearly two thirds described themselves as being overweight or obese.
Only a third of people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) that placed them in the obese category believed that they were actually obese.
MBF chief medical officer, Dr Christine Bennett, said the survey results were disturbing because they confirmed the trend that being obese was now regarded as the norm in society.
"It appears that Australians are becoming accustomed to living in an obese world where it seems normal for people to be overweight," Dr Bennett said.
"This attitude is strengthened as society makes adjustments for an overweight world including increasing clothing sizes and making airline seats bigger to accommodate larger bodies.
"As society adjusts, people lose sight of the fact that being overweight can damage their health with the threat of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
"With this kind of social conditioning, it is probably no surprise that people who are overweight still believe that they have excellent or very good health."
Dr Bennett released the survey findings at the 2007 Australian General Practice Network Forum being held in Hobart.
However, the MBF Healthwatch survey also had some encouraging signs. Its findings included:
- 72.3% of those surveyed had tried to eat better in the past 12 months
- 64.9% had tried to exercise more
- 47% had tried to get more sleep
- 43.3% had tried to spend more quality time with their families
"While many people made a concerted effort to improve their health and well-being the survey also showed that people had trouble maintaining their positive health improvements," Dr Bennett said.
"As 50% of adverse health experience can be traced to personal health behaviour, it appears that Australians would benefit from strategies that encourage their commitment to improving their health and well-being."
