Overweight Britons believe weight has hindered success
Overweight Britons believe weight has hindered success
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Thursday, 16, Jul 2009 01:43
By Lewis Bazley.
The impact of obesity on self-esteem has been revealed today with almost a third of overweight Britons believing their weight has affected their career.
Research carried out by YouGov among a sample of 2,023 UK residents found many overweight people believe they are viewed by others as "stupid", "lazy" and lacking in will power.
Some 24 per cent of adults in England are now classified as obese and with this figure predicted to rise, the UK could become an increasingly insecure nation.
The YouGov research also found that one in ten people who are overweight believe others assume they must be unhappy with themselves (11 per cent) while 32 per cent of respondents said comments about their weight would have more of a negative impact on their self-esteem than comments about their attractiveness (23 per cent), professional capability (28 per cent) or sexual performance (13 per cent).
"I think we should be concerned that lack of self esteem and altered self perception may actually be preventing people who want to do something about their weight from seeking help," commented life coach Jeremy Milnes.
"Being overweight is a very personal issue and it is not easy for some people to talk about, particularly if they feel they are being judged because of it. Imagine the difficulty someone is facing in plucking up the confidence to go and talk to a doctor or nurse about their weight issues.
"This is particularly worrying if people are seriously overweight or obese as weight may be affecting not only their confidence but more worryingly their health."
Some respondents even admitted refusing social invitations or avoiding the gym due to feelings of self-consciousness about their physical appearance.