Public attitudes towards prevention of obesity.

Claudia Sikorski,Hans-Helmut König,Perla Werner,Georg Schomerus,Melanie Luppa,Steffi G Riedel-Heller,Olga Y Gorlova

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039325

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate obesity prevention support in the German general public and to assess determinants of general prevention support as well as support of specific prevention measures.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional analysis of a telephone based representative German study (3,003 subjects (52.8% women, mean age 51.9, s.d. = 18.0, range 18–97 years). Likert scale-based questions on general prevention support and support of specific measures were used. Furthermore willingness to take part in preventive programs and willingness to pay were assessed. Stigmatizing attitudes were assessed with the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS). Causation of obesity was differentiated in three dimensions (internal, e.g. lack of exercise; external, e.g. social surroundings; and genetic factors).ResultsObesity prevention was perceived as possible (98.2%), however, almost exclusively lifestyle changes were named. Participants with higher stigmatizing attitudes were less likely to believe obesity prevention is possible. The majority of participants would take part in preventive programs (59.6%) and pay at least partially themselves (86.9%). Factor analysis revealed three dimensions of preventive measures: promoting healthy eating, restrictive and financial, governmental prevention efforts. In regard to these, promoting healthy eating was the most supported measure. Higher age, female gender and external causation were associated with higher support for all three dimensions of preventive measures. Only for governmental regulation, higher age was associated with lower support.ConclusionObesity prevention support in Germany is high. Structural prevention efforts are supported by the majority of the general public in Germany. The vast majority proclaims willingness to pay themselves for programs of weight gain prevention. This could be an indication of higher perceived self-responsibility in the German system but also for risen “fear of fat” in the population due to media coverage. For Germany, the government and communities ought to be encouraged by these results to start the implementation of structural obesity prevention.

Highlights

Obesity has become a major health problem in western countries and has started to increase in developing countries
7.5% of the entire disease burden measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in high income countries is caused by overweight and obesity [4]
Data Analysis After descriptive analyses, we investigated the influence of sociodemographic and condition-related characteristics on the named dimensions with logistic regression

Summary

Introduction

Obesity has become a major health problem in western countries and has started to increase in developing countries. The International Obesity Taskforce estimates about 600 million people to be obese worldwide [1]. Health systems are faced with an enormous economic burden [2;3]. 7.5% of the entire disease burden measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in high income countries is caused by overweight and obesity [4]. For Germany, direct costs (health care provided for affected patients) cumulate up to 4.854 billion Euros which corresponds to 2.1% of all health expenditures in 2002. Indirect costs, incurred by productivity loss due to illness related work loss days and missed career opportunities, sum up to 5.019 billion Euros per year [2]

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Discussion

Conclusion