Are You Realistic About Your Weight?
Do you regularly think about your weight?
If you’re like this country’s estimated 110 million active dieters, the answer is probably a resounding “yes.”
The downside to all this awareness is that a majority of Americans aren't realistic about their own body weight. According to a survey by NORC (pronounced N-O-R-C), at the University of Chicago, in collaboration with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
The admittedly small survey of 1,500 adults over the age of 18, found that one-third of respondents were normal weight, 29 percent were overweight, and 35 percent were obese based on BMI standard calculation.
When asked to define themselves as to their weight status, the overwhelming majority of those classified as obese said they were overweight. While technically correct, nearly half (47 percent) of those folks who fell into the obese category said they were only overweight.
Not surprisingly, men were more likely than women to underestimate their weight classification.
While some people might minimize these findings, there’s more here than meets the eye.
Of those surveyed, 57 percent of those whose self-classification were incorrect were less likely to speak to a doctor about their weight situation. In contrast, 76 percent of those who correctly identified themselves as obese would talk to a doctor.
The survey also assessed people's estimation of the causes of obesity as either lifestyle choices or a combination of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Those in the former group were less likely to speak to a doctor about their weight (35 percent) than were the latter (46 percent).
Obesity is at epidemic levels in this country and imperils the health of millions of people, predisposing them to heart disease, cancer, and dementia, among many other conditions.
Self-deception is common with patients. There may be some value to self-deception. It can keep people from ruminating over problems, as an example. And, of course, nearly everybody does it at some point.
However, we’re entering dangerous territory when that self-deception prevents people from seeking professional help. Malignant melanoma, a type of cancer that develops in pigment-containing cells known as melanocytes, won’t disappear on its own or with wishful thinking. The same goes for atherosclerosis, dementia, and hundreds of other illnesses, including obesity.
So, don’t ruminate over your weight, but don’t deny reality either. That’s no way to solve a problem that could kill you.
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