Paper summary: Attitudes to obesity

This paper presents new findings on attitudes in Britain towards obesity and what might be done to reduce its prevalence.

Despite appreciating some of the health risks, people tend not to recognise obesity when it does exist – and especially so in men.

Obesity is frequently regarded as a problem for individuals and health care professionals rather than society more generally, and those who are obese are often stigmatised. There is significant support for actions aimed at reducing levels of obesity.



Key findings

People tend to overestimate what obesity means in terms of body size

54% correctly identify when a woman is obese

39% correctly do this for a man

There is widespread understanding of some, but not all, of the health risks



over 80% understand that people who are obese are more likely to have heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes

34% understand the increased risk of liver disease

People who are obese are often the object of stigmatising attitudes