Danes fatter than they think

Many who consider themselves just overweight are actually obese

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.

READ MORE: Dane gets obesity legally declared a disability

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.”





  • How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    How internationals can benefit from joining trade unions

    Being part of a trade union is a long-established norm for Danes. But many internationals do not join unions – instead enduring workers’ rights violations. Find out how joining a union could benefit you, and how to go about it.

  • Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals in Denmark rarely join a trade union

    Internationals are overrepresented in the lowest-paid fields of agriculture, transport, cleaning, hotels and restaurants, and construction – industries that classically lack collective agreements. A new analysis from the Workers’ Union’s Business Council suggests that internationals rarely join trade unions – but if they did, it would generate better industry standards.

  • Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    Novo Nordisk overtakes LEGO as the most desirable future workplace amongst university students

    The numbers are especially striking amongst the 3,477 business and economics students polled, of whom 31 percent elected Novo Nordisk as their favorite, compared with 20 percent last year.