Why People Aren't Concerned About Being Obese

Obesity is a growing problem in the developed world as the number of overweight and obese individuals overtake the number of individuals who are a healthy weight. Obesity puts a great deal of strain on a person’s heart and can lead to all sorts of serious health conditions that cost money to treat. Consequently, national governments are concerned about the implications of having so many obese individuals who may not be able to work because of their size, thus failing to make any contribution to the economy, whilst becoming increasingly reliant on health services.

In order to address the issue of obesity, governments have been bombarding their citizens with information about how to lead a healthier lifestyle, whilst introducing certain taxes in order to try to discourage people from eating high-fat foods or consuming fizzy drinks. Despite all their efforts, though, most people don’t want to hear it. Even when they’re obese and know that they need to eat healthier and exercise more, they just don’t believe it is as big a problem as they are constantly being told. When they don’t believe it is really a problem, why would they bother to try to change?

Many people are in denial about the potential impact their weight could have on their health. They convince themselves that because they’re healthy at the moment, they will stay this way until they reach old age. However, obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other health problems substantially. Individuals may be able to tell themselves that they’re healthy and that their weight isn’t an issue, but eventually they could find that the extra weight they’re carrying starts to undermine their health.

Clearly, it is better for individuals if they don’t let their weight increase over the years, so they end up classified as obese, but it can be difficult for some individuals to acknowledge they’re that overweight. For those who’ve always had a weight problem, it is easier to accept that this is how they’re supposed to be, rather than making an effort to change. Plus, many obese individuals grow up in a household where their parents and siblings are obese, too, and if they also have friends who are obese, they are no different from the rest of the people they mix with on a day-to-day basis.

Whilst there are many people who are not particularly concerned about being obese, either because their health is not yet suffering or because they don’t even realise they’re obese, there are others for whom being obese is a matter for concern. There are plenty of reasons to be worried about being obese and some individuals are so anxious and frustrated about their weight that their desperation leads them to use radical and sometimes dangerous methods of weight loss. Obviously, this isn’t the best way to try to stay healthy life, either, which is why although obesity is a serious health issue, there is no point in anyone jeopardising their health just to lose weight quickly.