MILAN (ITALPRESS) – A few days from the beginning of the new year, while millions of people abandon the good intentions in what is often called “Quitter’s Day”, or “the day of the spring”, the new European survey of Novo Nordisk reveals the deep sense of isolation and stigmatization that people live with obesity, often accentuated by false myths and an even limited understanding of this condition.
From the survey, conducted in 5 European countries including Italy, 31% of respondents in our country did not know that the World Health Organization recognizes obesity as a chronic disease; an aspect that can fuel the wrong idea that losing weight is a simple question of “eating less and moving more”, and not a complex condition linked to genetic, physiological, psychological, social and environmental factors. For those who live with this condition, the pressure of good year-ends can fuel a deep sense of isolation.
The survey shows how, among those who decided to start a weight loss path in January, the lack of support is the main difficulty that leads them to desist, cited by 53% of respondents. Moreover, according to 88% of respondents, people with obesity are victims of stigma due to their weight.
These results highlight the urgent need to rethink how we talk about obesity and weight loss, going beyond the idea of individual responsibility and encouraging a holistic approach based on community support.
“The culture of good intentions for the new year, even if moved by good intentions, is likely to strengthen a simplistic and wrong vision of obesity, leading people to wrongly guilty and to undergo the weight of the stigma especially when their efforts to lose weight fail – comments Iris Zani, President of FIAO – Federazione Italiana Associazioni Obesità -. According to the survey, only a little more than half of people with obesity interviewed believe that society considers obesity for what it is – a chronic illness – and not as a choice of life: a fact that highlights how much remains to be done to eliminate the stigma towards those who suffer.”.
“Managing obesity is a courageous and long path that should not be faced alone – adds Eligio Linoci, FIAO Vice President – Italian Federation of Obesity Associations –. Today it is necessary to move attention from simple weight loss to the overall well-being of the person and to promote a support network to transform what is known as the “Quitter’s Day”, a delicate moment lived by many in silence and solitude, in a day of collective commitment”
Obesity is one of the major health challenges at European level; It is estimated that in Italy about 47% of adults (23.3 million) are in excess of weight and about 12% live with obesity (5.8 million), with important consequences on health and quality of life, as well as the considerable economic burden on society. Novo Nordisk has always been committed to promoting greater awareness of obesity and offering concrete help to people to deal with this disease.
For this last year the Novo IO portal was launched, an online portal where you can find useful tools and resources, but also book a virtual consultation or in presence with multidisciplinary medical teams, able to offer personalized care paths.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
