Researchers: Marjorie E. Chutkan, Julie Meeks-Gardner and Rainford Wilks
- Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona
THE SURVEY was carried out among 300 normal weight and overweight adults present at the University Hospital of the West Indies to ascertain their attitudes to obesity.
The researchers found that "40 per cent of the respondents agreed that fatness was a sign of happiness, 15 per cent thought it represented wealth, and 10 per cent thought it represented health. Just over one-half (58 per cent) of the women who were overweight perceived themselves to be fat, while fewer of the overweight men (42 per cent) thought themselves fat. Fifty-six per cent of the men, and 38 per cent of the women preferred a slim partner. Most respondents were aware of the diseases associated with obesity and could name foods which contributed to obesity for example, fried foods and sweets.
"These data suggest that obesity is viewed favourably, or not favourably, by nearly one-half of the sample, or the converse, over half of the respondents did not view obesity favourably. Although the problems of obesity are recognised, overweight people are not necessarily aware that they are in fact overweight and at risk. Health promotion efforts should take this into account."
Source : Cajanus, Vol. 34,
No. 3 (2001).
