Danes have no problem admitting they are carrying a few extra pounds, but many are unclear by exactly how much.
A new poll conducted by the research group Opinium for the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) shows that 42 percent of Danes who say they are overweight are actually obese.
Jens Meldgaard Bruun, the chairperson of the Dansk Selskab for Adipositasforskning (DSAF), the Danish association for the study of obesity, said the numbers should be cause for concern.
“It should be taken seriously when such a large group of Danes are underestimating their weight,” Bruun said.
Could lead to serious problems
According to the health department, 47 percent of the adult population in Denmark is overweight and 13 percent are obese.
However, the survey revealed that only 5 percent felt they were obese.
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The survey also revealed that 23 percent of Danes who believe their weight is normal have actually crossed into being overweight.
“It is well documented that obesity is a major factor in developing a number of serious complications, like Type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases,” said Bruun.
“Treatment should be tailored to individual patients and address the underlying factors that cause obesity.”
