In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, American researchers examined the medical records of 27,000 obese patients or overweight during three different periods: 1988-1994, 1999-2004 and 2009-2014. At first, they realized that the more the years pass, the more obese people there are (Americans have gained 7kg in 20 years). But what surprised them is that, at the same time, the number of people who choose to fight against this excess weight has decreased.
“The number of obese patients saying they were trying to lose weight has gone from 56% in the early years to 49% today” explain the researchers.
The reasons for a lack of interest in diets
The purpose of the study was not to find out the reasons for this lack of interest in the fight against obesity, but Dr. Jian Zhang of the University of Georgia (USA), the main author of the study, thinks that discouragement is the main reason. “It is painful and difficult to lose weight,” he explains in the time magazine. “Many of us try and fail, try and fail again, and then fail to try again.”
Another reason underlined by the doctor: being overweight is in the process of become a standard in the USA. The pressure to lose weight is therefore less.
“Yet obese or overweight people should be more concerned than they are, adds Dr. Zhang. Obesity is linked to an increased risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes and cancer, and not doing anything about it is bound to be detrimental to their health.”.
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