Are You Obese? The Answer May Surprise You!

There’s no denying that weight concerns and obesity are big issues for millions of Americans today. But even as these men and women do their best to eat healthy and work out, the pounds stay on, and the frustration grows. But what if you don’t even know that you need to lose weight? As hard to believe as it may seem, a new study illustrates that many people are not even aware that they’re overweight or obese! And this is actually a very serious matter …

Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas discovered that of their participants, all of whom are considered “obese,” one in 10 expressed satisfaction with their body size. And, they didn’t think they needed to lose any weight at all. But while this positive self-image is good for mental and emotional health, it can lead to deadly consequences for physical health.

According to lead researcher Tiffany Powell, a cardiology fellow, those obese individuals who don’t know or accept that they are may avoid healthy diets and exercise. As such, they’re at increased risk for cardiovascular health problems, such as increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).

The Role of Body Mass Index

In the study, the researchers focused on 2,056 obese individuals, with an average age of about 40. The participants reviewed nine different sex-specific figures, and then selected both the image they thought they looked like and their ideal figure. The figures showed outlines of bodies; the first was the slimmest figure and the images increased up to the ninth and largest). About 8% of the participants thought their body size was smaller than it really was. On average, they felt that their bodies looked like a 4 on the figure scale, while their ideal body size was about 5. Meanwhile, the other participants selected an average of 6 for current body size and under a 4 for their ideal image.

Those participants who were unaware that they were obese had an average body mass index (BMI) of nearly 35. The other participants had BMIs of nearly 37. BMI scores take into account a person’s weight and height and indicate body fatness and weight categories. A BMI score of 30 or above is considered “obese”; 25 to 29.9 “overweight”; 18.5 to 24.9 “normal”; and below 18.5 is considered “underweight.” Among the study’s findings:

• For those who were unaware of or satisfied with their weight issues, 44% had not visited a doctor in the past year; 26% of those who recognized their weight issues did visit a doctor in that time period.
• When the satisfied/unaware group visited the doctor, nearly 40% said that their doctor mentioned the need for weight loss; 70% of the aware group reported the same.
• The satisfied/obese group admitted not exercising on average, while the other group exercised regularly.
• Among the satisfied/unaware group, 35% had high blood pressure, 15% had high cholesterol, 14% had diabetes, and 27% were current smokers.

Becoming Educated About Healthy Weight

As for why some people are unaware of or satisfied with their weight, the researchers believe that it may be due to a lack of education.  “A larger cause may be cultural beliefs and acceptance of obesity as the norm when most around you are obese,” stated Powell. “I think as obesity becomes more prevalent and people around you are larger you reset what is acceptable.”

Powell also noted that African Americans and Hispanics were significantly more likely than whites to be satisfied with their body size. These groups were also more likely to feel that weight loss was unnecessary.  “We’re seeing more prevalence in minority populations because obesity is more prevalent in those groups. I think as a society as all of us become larger we reset what we think of as a healthy body size.”

So what can be done? The researchers believe that it is the job of both physicians and communities as a whole to get involved, and help these obese individuals to make efforts to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Powell adds: “We have to tell people regardless of whether they bring it up that they are obese and they need to lose weight, and they need to change their dietary habits and they need to work on physical activity.”
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20091117/sc_livescience/theobesedontalwaysknowit