Public health: Research reveals staggering ignorance
Over a quarter of obese people do not want to lose weight, with many more unaware of the health risks they run by remaining overweight, a survey has found.
In a poll of more than 4,000 men and women, researchers discovered that 87% of obese people and 32% of overweight people were unable to correctly identify their weight category.
In addition, 71% of those at greater risk of developing cancer due to being overweight were oblivious to the correlation between being fat and contracting the disease.
The survey was conducted by the British Market Research Board and coincides with Cancer Research UK's Reduce the Risk scheme, which focuses on tackling factors that increase the risk of cancer such as smoking, drinking and being overweight.
The survey went on to reveal that the vast majority of the respondents did not believe changing to a healthier lifestyle could cut the risk of developing cancer.
Half of all overweight and obese people did not think that changing to a healthier diet could reduce the risk and 64% were unaware of the beneficial effects of taking exercise in lowering the chances of getting the disease.
A further 80% did not realise the importance of drinking moderately to lower cancer risk.
Despite the well-established link between being morbidly overweight and the onset of cancer, obesity rates are on the rise in the UK.
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "It is worrying to think that people are in denial about their weight.
"Obesity is one of the biggest known preventable causes of cancer for those who don't smoke and these results show that far too many of those at risk are choosing to ignore their weight."
The charity has released 10 simple guidelines designed to help obese people lose weight and lower their risk of developing cancer.
Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's Health Behaviour Unit, said: "In today's world of high-fat food and less active lifestyles, quick fix diets are unlikely to provide a long-term solution to the obesity epidemic.
"The top 10 tips programme is specifically designed to help people develop routines to lose weight and keep it off."
- How increases in drinking and obesity will affect insurance - see page 37.
