Obesity: A weighty issue

Obesity is a global issue. It is reaching epidemic proportions in developed nations and many developing countries now also have problems.

Synovate asked people what they believed the main cause of obesity was and found that 40% of all people attribute food as the culprit - 20% chose 'unhealthy food choices' and another 20% chose 'unhealthy food habits like eating at irregular hours'.

A further 18% say it is 'lack of exercise', 13% blame the individual ('no self-discipline') and 11% say 'genetics'.

People in the UK (21%) and US (20%), two of the nations with the biggest issues, are most likely to nominate 'no self-discipline' as the leading factor in obesity.

Across the globe, very few people blame their government as the number one factor in causing obesity.

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> Off-the-scale behaviour

> Food as fuel or pleasure?

> The number one fast food nation

> Losing it

> Home gyms, low-fat foods and weight loss programmes