In a previous blog, I discussed a Harris Interactive poll of 2,400 survey respondents that reported 30% of overweight individuals believe they are within a normal body size and that 70% of obese individuals believe they are simply overweight. This study clearly shows that as a population we need to develop a truer perception of our body size.
A new, larger obesity research study examined our perceptions of body size, what we choose to do about it, and the potential role of health care professionals in improving our perceptions[1]. For this study, obesity researchers analyzed data from nearly 17,000 adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 - 2008. The study investigators reported that:
73% of women and 55% of men reported a desire to lose weight; however, only 57% of women and 40% of men actually reported trying to control their weight.
48% of overweight men and 23% of overweight women perceived themselves as being at their correct body weight.
The vast majority of overweight individuals (74%) and nearly one-third (29%) of obese individuals have never been diagnosed as overweight or obese by their health care provider.
Most overweight or obese survey respondents (74% of women and 60% of men) reported trying at least one weight loss strategy.
Only about one-third of overweight or obese individuals reported using both diet AND exercise to lose weight.
Obese or overweight individuals diagnosed as such by their health care provider were more likely to diet, exercise, or do both compared to individuals not diagnosed as overweight by their health care provider.
This study is a fascinating look into our perceptions of body size, what we chose to do about it, and the important role health care providers can play. It is clear from this large population-based study that nearly two-thirds of us profess a desire to lose weight; unfortunately, only about a third of us actually take steps to lose the weight we desire to lose. Part of this is apparently because many overweight individuals, men in particular, perceive themselves to be at a normal, healthy body weight. Developing a more realistic and accurate perception of our body size is clearly an important step towards losing weight. Health care providers can be an important and helpful part of developing a more realistic perception of our true body size. Considering that the data from this study suggests that a proper body weight diagnosis by a health care professional can motivate many of us to lose weight, it is very disturbing to read that nearly 75% of overweight individuals are never diagnosed as such by their health care providers. This clearly shows that health care providers can play an important part in our weight loss efforts. The results of this study indicate the importance of an honest, straight-forward discussion of body size and weight control strategies with our health care providers as a first step to obtaining and maintaining a healthy body weight throughout life.
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