Do obese persons comprehend their personal health risks?
OBJECTIVE
To test whether overweight and obese individuals believe they are at greater risk of obesity-related diseases and premature mortality.


METHODS
Telephone survey of 1139 US adults analyzed using linear and ordered logistic regressions.


RESULTS
Obese (overweight) adults forecast life expectancies 3.9 (2.4) years shorter than those of normal weight adults. Excess weight was associated with greater self-perceived risk of developing diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. All results were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight and obese adults recognize several personal health risks associated with obesity. Interventions focusing only on health risks of obesity may provide minimal new information and induce little new weight loss.
Finkelstein
Eric A
EA
Public Health Economics Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA. finkelse@rti.org
Brown
Derek S
DS
Evans
W Douglas
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult