One in three obese women in London denies she is so overweight, according to a survey.
Fourteen per cent of women in the capital admitted they were obese. But experts judged that in fact about 20 per cent were, according to the Health Survey for England 2011. Shadow public health minister Diane Abbott said: “We all need to be honest about this.
“It just shows the need for government action to help people achieve a healthy weight.”
A slightly higher proportion of obese men in London said they were carrying such excessive weight. Nineteen per cent of males over 16 in the capital were assessed as obese, with 14 per cent self-reporting being so overweight. Obesity can lead to a range of health problems including diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.
Around 20 per cent of overweight women were under-estimating their weight, and slightly fewer men, though more men overall are overweight.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “Being overweight or obese can cause serious health problems so it’s vital that people can get advice about their weight. We are rolling out the NHS Health Check programme across England to assess the risks to people’s health, including if they are overweight and obese, and to offer them the support they need.”
