Obesity is an important
risk factor for the development of chronic
non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and
hypertension, which
affects large numbers of
Caribbean people. There is a
perception that
Caribbean culture is not only tolerant of
obesity but actually encourages this
state, especially among
women. We carried out a
survey among normal-weight and
overweight adults in order to investigate their
attitudes to
obesity. Three hundred
adults (245
women and 55
men) present at the Casualty department at the
University Hospital during the study period were asked to participate. A
questionnaire was given, and heights and
weights were measured to determine
Body Mass Index (BMI). The relation between BMI and
attitudes to
obesity was explored. Forty percent of the
respondents agreed that fatness was a sign of
happiness, 15 percent
thought it represented wealth, and 10 percent
thought it represented
health. Just over half (58 percent) of the
women who were
overweight perceived themselves to be fat, while of the
overweight men (42 percent)
thought themselves fat. Fifty-six percent of the
men, and 38 percent of the
women preferred a slim partner. Most
respondents were aware of the
diseases associated with
obesity and could
name foods which contributed to
obesity e.g. fried
foods and sweets. These data suggest that
obesity is viewed favourably, or not unfavourably, by nearly half of the sample, or the converse, over half of the
respondents did not view
obesity favourably. Although the problems of
obesity are recognized,
overweight people are not necessarily aware that they are in fact
overweight and at
risk.
Health promotion efforts should take this into account. (AU)