Obesity: Who's to Blame and How Big is the Problem?

morefocus asked people about their attitudes towards obesity. Nearly 1100 responded to questions regarding their own weight and eating habits. Seventy-five percent of respondents strongly agreed that obesity represents a serious problem in their respective countries. While 32 percent of people admitted to being obese, only 17 percent indicated that they maintain the recommended weight for their stature.

 

 

 

Fifty-six percent of people resoundingly pointed to parents as the biggest influence over a child's nutritional habits. Food advertisements were the second most popular answer with 27 percent highlighting them as most influential over a child's eating habits. In fact, 50 percent of people agreed that the government should intervene in the types of ads marketed to children while 67 percent thought that celebrities should not be involved in this marketing process.

 

 

Overall, only 25 percent of respondents had attempted a prescriptive approach to combating obesity. However, women were three times more likely than men to have tried prescription weight loss drugs: 32 percent of women versus only 9 percent of men.

 

 

However, although a substantial percentage of people have turned to weight-loss prescription drugs, 86 percent indicated that they are overweight due to their poor eating habits. In general, respondents were more likely to blame their own personal habits, like poor nutrition and lack of exercise, for their weight problems, rather than genetics. By attributing their physical appearance to causes within their control, people reflected their willingness to take responsibility for their weight issues.