Off-the-scale behaviour

Fifteen percent of French people and 12% of Americans weigh themselves every single day, while at the other end of the spectrum only 15% of Hong Kongers get on the scales once or more every week.

"We wanted to see whether people were habitually thinking about their weight and monitoring it," Garton said.

Around a third of all respondents are regular scale-dwellers, while one in five people never weigh themselves. Half of all Americans and the French check their weight once a week or more and the Singaporeans are the least weight-obsessed with 37% never getting on the scales.

Thierry Pailleux, Synovate's Managing Director in France, made the point that the similar results for France and America possibly stemmed from very different motivations.

"French people take care of their image as a matter of course. Being thin is part of our culture and a point of pride. We are known for it. On top of this, there is increasing awareness of the devastation that obesity can cause to one's health."

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