The research by Slimming World reveals that it takes four years and two months for an overweight person to admit to themselves that their weight is a problem and another 17 months for them to discuss it with another person.
As most people gain weight each year, the five-and-a-half year delay is likely to see them become heavier and could increase their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer and affect their emotional wellbeing, experts at Slimming World have warned. Currently, around one in four (25%) adults is obese, and it is estimated that by 2034 this will increase to one in three.
Public Health England’s One You campaign calls for adults to take a moment to reassess their health by taking a free online health quiz, ‘How Are You’, and make changes to improve their health now, and in the future. Slimming World is a flagship partner of One You and asked 1,262 slimmers to see how quickly people identify a problem with their weight and act on it.
As well as the five years and seven months delay to talk to someone about their weight worries, which could see many people gain enough weight to put them into a higher risk Body Mass Index (BMI) category, the research also looked at why many people find it so difficult to discuss their concerns. Common reasons included preferring to deal with things themselves (27%), feeling too embarrassed (22%), not wanting to admit they had a problem (12%) and not wanting to worry others (11%).
“As a country, we are getting heavier,” says Dr Jacquie Lavin, Slimming World Head of Nutrition and Research. “However, that’s no surprise at all when you consider the environment that we live in.
“High-fat, high-sugar food is cheap, easily available, and heavily advertised. Food is something to celebrate with and to take comfort in, technological advances mean that we no longer need to be physically active and we have an abundance of choice when it comes to sedentary leisure activities.
“It’s clear from this research that people are reluctant to talk to others about their weight worries. This makes the role of health professionals, who are being urged to ‘make every contact count’, particularly important. By developing the skills to identify patients with a raised BMI and to raise the issue of weight in a compassionate and non-judgemental way, health professionals can help to ensure people tackle their weight sooner, making them less likely to develop health issues.
“It may feel easier to discuss a patient’s weight if they present with a condition that is directly weight related; for example, at a diabetes clinic or during coronary heart disease aftercare. However, health checks, family planning, baby immunisations, vaccinations, medication reviews for asthma, migraines, skin conditions and mental health consultations all provide indirect opportunities to raise the issue of weight and to have a supportive conversation.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, comments: “The demands of modern life make it hard for people to find time to prioritise their own health.
“One You aims to encourage people to put their health first as it’s never too late to take action. We’re delighted to partner with Slimming World to help support people looking to make the first step towards living a healthy lifestyle and losing weight. Making better choices today can have a huge influence on our health and could prevent diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and reduce our risk of suffering a stroke or living with dementia, disability and frailty in later life.”
For practical advice on how to discuss weight in a way that leaves patients feeling open to change, Slimming World's Head of Nutrition and Research, Dr Jacquie Lavin, has written an article in the journal Primary Health Care. Read the article here
Slimming World has also produced ‘Discussing Weight – A Resource for Health Professionals’, download the resource here,