Half of those who are overweight would like to slim down
More than half of those who are overweight would like to slim down. Most of these people intend to do this on their own; only a small proportion plans to seek medical or dietary help to do this. The other half is not yet ready to do something about their weight. In an article in the scientific journal BMC Public Health, researchers from the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) and the VU University Amsterdam write that prevention programmes should be responsive to these differing needs.
“Now that it’s been shown that so many people who are overweight would like to lose weight on their own, prevention programmes could focus on this,” says NIVEL programme coordinator Cindy Veenhof. “For example, by performing regular physical examinations and giving individual lifestyle recommendations, or by pointing them towards reliable information. This can prevent obesity and any further deterioration in health.”
Losing weight with help
The study showed that people who are overweight feel that dietitians are best qualified when it comes to giving dietary advice, but that this advice is something that is mainly for other people. A small group eventually plans to lose weight with the help of a health professional. These are primarily people who rate their health as poor. Also, those who are obese or overweight and who are more at risk of cardiovascular disease and conditions associated with this (such as high blood pressure) are more likely to be planning to seek help from a health professional than people who are just overweight.
Misperceptions
Still, there is another large group of overweight and obese people who are not yet ready to do something about their weight. These are mainly people with a lower educational level, people who are married or who have misperceptions about their own body weight, and people with less positive views on dietitians. Cindy Veenhof: “It would seem there is a large group of people who are not aware of the consequences of being overweight: they don't mind being overweight, are happy with their current weight, or don't think they're overweight at all. By bringing up the health risks of overweight and obesity, health professionals can take a first step towards getting them to do something about their weight. And then there is also a group of people who say they have tried to lose weight but that it didn’t work. What can help in such cases is a combined lifestyle intervention, in which health professionals – for example, a dietitian, a practice nurse, a physiotherapist, and a psychologist – work together in a joint effort.”
Research
For the study, a questionnaire was sent to 1,500 adults on NIVEL’s Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel. More than half of those approached responded. The results are based on self-reported data from people who are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI: weight divided by the square of their height) of more than 25, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and diabetes or joint conditions. Half of the people in this group have elevated health risks due to their weight.
Funding
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Cooperating partner
VU