London - When your buttons start to pop off or your belt won’t buckle, a diet may seem the obvious solution.
In fact, it typically takes an overweight person more than four years to admit they have a problem – and a further year and a half to tell someone, researchers found.
A poll of more than 1 200 British slimmers revealed they had spent an average of five years and seven months in denial.
Reasons for the delay ranged from embarrassment to not wanting to worry others.
Given that most of us get heavier each year, it is highly likely participants continued to pile on the pounds during this time, increasing their odds of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses fuelled by obesity.
Slimming World, which carried out the research, said the normalisation of obesity is also a factor as we compare our weight to others’ to decide if we are healthy.
Dr Jacquie Lavin, Slimming World’s head of nutrition and research, said: “As the average person’s weight increases, being overweight becomes “normalised” which can make it harder for us to notice when we gain just a few pounds.”
She added: “As a country, we are getting heavier. However, that’s no surprise at all when you consider the environment that we live in.
“No matter whether you have a few pounds to lose or you really feel like you’re struggling with your weight, taking a moment to reassess your health and wellbeing is a really positive step.”
Daily Mail