One In Five 'Stones Overweight'
One in five British people (18%) say they are currently two stones (women)/three stones (men) or more overweight, and a further 10% say they have been in the past but are not now, according to new research from MORI.
Of those people, one in five (22%) say it had/has a 'very negative effect' on their life, and more than a third (37%) say it had/has a 'fairly negative effect' -- whilst one in five (21%) say it makes/made no difference.
The survey, commissioned by Slimfast, looks at people's own opinions of their weight and how they feel it affects their life.
Technical details
MORI interviewed a representative sample of 1,002 adults aged 16+ by telephone between 14-17 February 2003.
Topline Results
Q1 Do you currently consider yourself to be, or have you ever been two/three stone (13kg/19kg) or more overweight?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes -- I am currently 2/3 stone over weight | 18 |
| I have been 2/3 stone overweight in the past but I'm not currently | 10 |
| I have never been 2/3 stone or more overweight | 72 |
| Don't know | * |
Q2 To what extent, if at all, do/did you feel that being overweight has/d a negative effect on your lifestyle? Would you say it has/d... Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| A very negative effect | 22 |
| A fairly negative effect | 37 |
| It makes little difference | 19 |
| It makes no difference | 21 |
Q3 In what way do/did you feel that being overweight has/d a negative effect on your lifestyle? What impact does/did your weight have? What else? Base: All who feel that being overweight has/had a negative effect on their lifestyle (162)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Unfit/lack of energy | 38 |
| Lowers self confidence/poor self esteem | 29 |
| Health problems | 23 |
| Trouble finding fashionable/suitable clothes | 18 |
| Other people's perceptions/made to feel inferior | 9 |
| Dislike going out/socialising | 8 |
| Affects career prospects/job opportunities | 4 |
| Makes me depressed | 3 |
| Other | 4 |
| Don't know | 8 |
Q4 To what extent, if at all, do/did you feel that being overweight adversely affects/ed your health? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| A great deal | 22 |
| A fair amount | 37 |
| Not very much | 27 |
| Not at all | 14 |
Q5 I am about to read out a number of statements which other people have said about being overweight. For each statement, please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| Strongly agree | Tend to agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Tend to disagree | Strongly disagree | Don't know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| I feel people tend/ed to judge me more than others because I am/was overweight | 25 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 27 | 2 |
| I feel that people tend/ed to treat me differently than others because I am/was overweight | 19 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 33 | 2 |
| Being overweight makes/made me lack self confidence | 30 | 22 | 3 | 16 | 28 | 0 |
| Getting support which is/was suited to my own specific needs would have help/ed me to manage my weight better | 27 | 27 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 1 |
| I would have welcome/d more help and advice in managing my weight if it was/had been available | 28 | 24 | 9 | 22 | 16 | 1 |
Q6 In what way do/did you feel that people tend/ed to treat you differently than others because you are/were overweight? What else? Base: All who feel/felt that people tended to treat them differently than others because they are/were overweight (95)
| % | |
|---|---|
| People look down on you/made to feel inferior | 16 |
| People assume you are lazy | 12 |
| People's attitudes/approach | 14 |
| Abuse/name calling | 14 |
| Social exclusion/people don't bother with you | 10 |
| Hard to get a job | 9 |
| People judge you by how you look | 6 |
| Other | 7 |
| None/nothing/never have been treated differently | 6 |
| Don't know | 11 |
Q7 I am going to read out a list of situations where other people have said that they lack confidence because they are overweight, for each one I read out please tell me whether you feel that you lack/ed confidence in this situation as a direct result of being overweight. Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| Yes | No | Don't know | Not applicable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| When out socially in pubs, clubs or at parties | 41 | 54 | 2 | 4 |
| When eating out in a restaurant | 26 | 71 | 1 | 2 |
| In a swimming pool | 56 | 35 | 1 | 8 |
| In a gym or sports centre | 45 | 43 | 3 | 10 |
| When using communal changing rooms | 48 | 39 | 2 | 11 |
| When making a visit to your doctor | 19 | 79 | 1 | 1 |
| When using public transport | 15 | 76 | 3 | 7 |
| On holiday | 47 | 49 | * | 3 |
| When exercising or doing physical activities outdoor s | 48 | 42 | 1 | 9 |
Q8 Which, if any, of the following have you ever personally experienced in relation to your weight? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Hurtful or insulting comments from children | 25 |
| Negative assumptions made about you from people who did not know you | 30 |
| Physical barriers e.g. turnstiles or cinema seats which are too small for you to use comfortably | 12 |
| Being stared at | 16 |
| Remarks from doctors which you considered to be inappropriate or hurtful | 16 |
| Remarks from friends or family which you considered to be inappropriate or hurtful | 33 |
| None of these | 42 |
Q9 Have/did you ever felt/feel that you lost out on getting a job because you were overweight? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 8 |
| No | 90 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Q10 Have you ever felt discriminated against because of your weight? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 11 |
| No | 87 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q11 In what ways have you ever felt discriminated against because of your weight? What else? Base: All who have ever felt discriminated against because of their weight (30)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Turned down for jobs | 36 |
| Clothes shopping/lack of choice | 16 |
| Abuse/name calling | 12 |
| Social exclusion | 8 |
| Other | 29 |
| None | 2 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q12a If/when you wanted to try to loose weight, would/did you know where to look for independent support and advice on how to find the most effective method of weight loss for you personally? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 75 |
| No | 23 |
| Not applicable -- I didn't actively want to loose weight | 2 |
| Don't know | * |
Q12b Where would/did you look for independent support and advice on how to find the most effective method of weight loss for you personally? Base: All who would know where to look for independent support and advice on how to find the most effective method of weight loss for them personally (211)
| % | |
|---|---|
| A slimming club | 41 |
| Your doctor | 35 |
| Friends or relatives | 10 |
| Books and magazines | 14 |
| The internet | 5 |
| Dietician | 3 |
| Gym/Health club | 3 |
| Myself | 2 |
| Other | 3 |
| Don't know | 4 |
Q13 Have/did you ever or would you ever consider going to your GP for help and advice about your weight? Please tell me which of the following statements best apply to you. Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| I have been to my GP for help and advice before and would consider going again | 29 |
| I have been to my GP for help and advice before and would NOT consider going again | 7 |
| I have not and would not consider going to my GP for help and advice | 17 |
| I have not been before but would consider going to my GP for help and advice | 19 |
| I do not consider myself sufficiently overweight to need help and advice | 27 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q14 I am now going to read out a list of factors which are often associated with people putting on weight, please tell me which if any, of the following contributed to you becoming overweight? Base: All who currently consider themselves to be or who ever have been 2/3 stone or more overweight (277)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Eating for comfort | 50 |
| Snacking between meals | 54 |
| Eating high fat or high calorie foods | 55 |
| Lack of exercise | 63 |
| A medical condition | 26 |
| A lack of support in managing my weight | 16 |
| A change in personal circumstances | 41 |
| Other (Please specify) | 6 |
| None of these | 1 |
| Don't know | * |
Q15 I am going to read out a number of statements which other people have said about people who are overweight. For each statement, please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree? Base: All who have never been 2/3 stone or more overweight (725)
| Strongly agree | Tend to agree | Neither agree nor disagree | Tend to disagree | Strongly disagree | Don't know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | % | % | |
| I sometimes judge people who are overweight differently to others | 8 | 24 | 7 | 22 | 38 | 1 |
| I feel irritated if I have less space because a very overweight person sits next to me on a plane, bus or train | 18 | 24 | 5 | 21 | 30 | 2 |
| People who are overweight simply lack self control | 8 | 18 | 7 | 27 | 37 | 2 |
| I sympathise with people who struggle to keep their weight down | 51 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 4 | * |
Q16 Which, if any, of the following do you feel should be available to help people in the UK who are overweight or obese?
| % | |
|---|---|
| More widely available independent advice e.g. support groups | 52 |
| A charity offering support for overweight and obese support | 33 |
| An anonymous telephone helpline | 45 |
| NHS support groups run at GP surgeries and local medical centres | 68 |
| Other (please specify) | 2 |
| None of these -- but I do feel people should be offered more help | 6 |
| None of these -- I don't think more help is needed | 7 |
| Don't know | 2 |
Q17a Finally, please tell me from the list I am about to read out, how you would describe your weight. Are you...
| % | |
|---|---|
| Very underweight | 1 |
| Moderately underweight | 1 |
| A little underweight | 6 |
| About right the weight for your height | 40 |
| A little overweight | 33 |
| Moderately overweight | 15 |
| Very overweight | 4 |
| Don't know | * |
Q17b And how would you describe your weight when you were at your heaviest? Base: All who been 2/3 stone or more overweight in the past but are not currently (99)
| % | |
|---|---|
| A little overweight | 7 |
| Moderately overweight | 48 |
| Very overweight | 45 |
