Yellow Fat Person - © Unknown

Americans Pay Only Lip Service To Risks Of Obesity

A new survey shows that, while almost 9 out of 10 Americans are aware of the link between body weight and heart disease, few of those carrying extra pounds are doing anything about reducing their own risk. Overweight and obesity are also connected with type 2 diabetes and some cancers…

Heart Attack Patient - © cicinvestments.comIf you’re carrying extra pounds you could be extra likely to suffer a heart attack.

The findings…

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic recently discovered some revealing facts about how Americans (probably Canadians, too, by association) see the obesity epidemic:

  • 88 percent of those surveyed said they were aware of the connection between overweight and heart disease
  • 74 percent are concerned about their weight
  • 65 percent are concerned about developing heart disease because of their extra pounds
  • But only 43 percent have actually tried to lose some weight.

In addition:

  • 87 percent of Americans were unaware of the link between excess weight and cancer
  • 54 percent were aware that obesity is linked to high ‘bad’ cholesterol levels
  • 57 per cent weren’t aware of obesity’s connection to coronary artery disease
  • 67 per cent did not know that obesity could lead to a stroke.

The takeaway…

“Most Americans understand abstractly that being overweight or obese is not good for your health, but it seems we are not grasping that the leading causes of death and disability — stroke, cancer, coronary artery disease — are all adversely affected by increased weight,” says Dr. Steven Nissen, Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. “We need to do a better job of educating patients and the public about the major consequences of carrying excess weight and the benefits of losing weight. A patient only needs to lose five percent of their body weight to start seeing important health benefits.”

My take…

It’s clear to me that ‘most Americans’ are woefully unaware of the risks they’re taking by letting themselves become severely overweight or outright obese. If they did receive ‘better patient education’, they might twig to the fact that they are literally shortening their lives, and do something about it. I also suspect that there’s a very strong dose of ‘it can’t happen to me’ involved in the high level of acceptance of obesity across American Society. You know, the denial (out of laziness) that a risk actually exists until something bad happens. Like folks who put in a burglar alarm only after they’ve suffered a break-in.

~ Maggie J.