The full extent of Britain’s obesity crisis has been revealed – a study has shown over half of the population want to shed at least a stone. In fact, research has shown a quarter of all adults want to get rid off a hefty TWO STONES.
Even more alarmingly, researchers found one in five people have considered embarking on the ‘eating is cheating’ starvation diet.
Probably because they lack the willpower to hold down a standard diet- 51% of women and 38% of men blamed their lack of will for their inability do diet successfully.
Franco Beer from diet aid product Slimsticks, which commissioned the in-depth study of over 1000 adults, said:
“The research suggests that more and more people are seeing radical weight loss options as an easier or more effective solution than dieting or healthy eating.
“However this is not the case. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat less.”
The study probed the lengths we are prepared to go to in order to lose weight- worryingly, it found one in ten would try a liquid diet.
Many more said they would consider weight loss methods usually reserved for the clinically obese or medically in danger because of their weight problem.
Almost one in ten would consider liposuction, one in 14 would look at having a gastric band fitted, while one in 25 would consider stomach stapling.
It also emerged more than 80% of people struggle to stick to a diet, with 28% of 16-24 year olds trying a new diet MONTHLY.
Even the over 55s are at it, with 5% of them are trying a new diet every four weeks, while close to half blame willpower for not being to lose weight on diets.
More than one in four people said they want to lose up to one stone (27%) while a similar number said they could do with losing two stones.
The majority of women polled said they wanted to lose weight to look better (82%), compared with 64% of men.
77% of all those polled said they wanted to lose weight to be healthier.
Not being able to fit into an item of clothing was the thing most likely to prompt one in three to start dieting, while looking at themselves in a bad photograph was the main reason for one in four.
People are most likely to consider a healthier diet (84%) and reduced portion size (74%) as methods of weightloss, while around one in seven (14%) will consider using slimming supplements/aids.
The stomach is overwhelmingly the biggest problem area where people would like to lose weight, for 91% of men and 76% of women.
According to the NHS Information Centre, the number of hospital procedures for weight loss stomach surgery rose to 8,087 in 2010/2011- 12% higher than in 2009/2010 when there were 7,214 procedures performed.
Priya Tew, independent Registered Dietitian, also commented on the findings:
“With the rates of obesity increasing year after year it can seem like an impossible task to stop the pounds piling on.
“Having a balanced diet, an active lifestyle and careful portion control is the key.
“Over eating by just 200kcals a day will lead to weight gain over a year. Our lifestyles are so busy with food so readily available now, making preparation and planning essential if you are going to eat healthily.”
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