New research from You Gov out today, commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology reveals surprising facts about British women’s attitudes towards weight loss as well as ignorance of some important risks associated with obesity.

Worrying findings include:

• 50% of British women classify themselves as overweight.
• If trying to lose weight, over a third (35%) wouldn’t try to increase their exercise levels.
• But nearly 1 in 5 (18%) would try hypnosis and 15% would try weight loss pills instead.
• Most women recognise that there are links between obesity and diabetes (84%) as well as with high blood pressure (85%).
• But only just under a third knew it could cause cancer of the colon (32%).
• And 41% are unaware of the links between obesity and infertility.

Professor Chris Hawkey, President of The British Society of Gastroenterology states:

“Obesity is a huge problem facing Britain with predictions showing it is only going to get worse. We consistently see statistics showing the number of obese cases rising year on year. But this is the first time that we have looked at individual attitudes to this serious health issue. If people aren’t even aware of obesity’s wider health implications such as cancer, then I fear they are never going to change their behavioural habits. We need to do more to raise awareness about the risks associated with obesity.

The Department of Health has spent £75million on the Change4Life anti obesity campaign but it is not clear that public health messages around obesity are not getting through. It is an issue that needs tackling in a serious manner before obesity issues turn into a pandemic.”

Statistics from the Government show that if we carry on as we are, by 2050 9 in 10 adults will be overweight or obese. The cost of overweight and obese individuals to the NHS is estimated to be £4.2 billion and is forecasted to more than double by 2050. The cost to the wider economy is £16billion, and this is predicted to rise to £50billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked.[1]

The results are published as part of National Obesity Week, aimed at getting people to recognise that being overweight is a health issue and not just an issue of vanity.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. Government figures taken from ‘Foresight: Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project’ 2007

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1959 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th -14th September 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

About the British Society of Gastroenterology

The British Society of Gastroenterology is an organisation focused on the promotion of gastroenterology within the United Kingdom. It has over three thousand members drawn from the ranks of physicians, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses, dietitians, and others interested in the field. Founded in 1937 it has grown from a club to be a major force in British medicine.

For further information please contact:

Richard Gardner or Surinder Kaur Gill at Quintus Communications on 0207 340 6260 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it