It seems that as bigger sizes become the new “normal”, people are less likely to recognise the health problems associated with their weight.
A majority of obese people in Britain would not describe themselves as “obese”, and many would not even describe themselves as “very overweight”, according to a study from Cancer Research UK. Fewer than 10% of those who are clinically obese accept they have a serious weight problem.
In the survey of around 2000 adults, 11% of obese women accurately acknowledged they were “obese”, while the figure fell to only 7% for men.
Around 18,000 cases of cancer in the UK each year are linked to being overweight or obese. Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK’s head of health information, said: “Carrying those extra pounds can have serious health implications. Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important ways of reducing the risk of cancer, for both men and women.”