Overweight - is this self-inflicted?

Strong overweight is perceived as self-inflicted
Although experts believe that the global increase in overweight people is largely due to changing environmental conditions, the general public blames individuals for their overweight. In their opinion, sufferers should therefore bear the resulting medical treatment costs themselves. This is shown by a recent study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the University of Mannheim, which was published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Almost a third of the world's population is overweight. Scientists are already talking about a global health crisis and the World Health Organization, for example, is calling for a 20 percent sugar tax on beverages. Experts agree that the main reasons for the increase in obesity, ie overweight, are changed environmental conditions. After all, people in industrialized nations today eat far more calories than before, while at the same time they are less mobile.

Overweight resulting from the craving for food has many health risks such as hypertension and diabetes. (Image: Creativa Images / fotolia.com)

"For centuries we dreamed of the land of plenty. A land of food in abundance, which practically flies into our mouth without effort. Today we live in a modern paradise - but that brings new problems with it, "says Jutta Mata, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Mannheim and associate scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

However, social support for policies and regulations that focus on environmental conditions has been limited. Because most people see the guilt for strong overweight primarily with the individual. This is shown by a survey of representative population samples from Germany, Great Britain and the USA. The researchers wanted to know who respondents blamed for severe obesity, who in their opinion should pay the treatment costs, and which policies were considered effective. To better classify the findings, the researchers also asked the same questions regarding alcohol and tobacco dependence.

These diseases have some similarities with a strong overweight. For example, it is discussed whether strong overweight could also be the result of a kind of "addiction to food". On the other hand, they have already successfully implemented broad preventive and intervention measures.

In all three countries, most respondents blamed individuals for obesity, as did addictions such as alcohol or tobacco dependence. As a general rule, the higher the level of personal responsibility, the more people advocated that the individual pay for his / her medical expenses. In Germany and Great Britain, a good third of those surveyed agreed, while in the United States it was just under 45 percent. The household income of respondents did not influence their statements.

Sugar tax refused
In addition, respondents assessed the effectiveness of policies to prevent obesity - such as high taxes, regulated availability, regulated marketing and promotion, and labeling and warnings - compared to the effectiveness of these measures to prevent alcohol and tobacco dependence. Overall, they rated policies and regulations against the prevalence of excessive obesity as less effective than those against alcohol and tobacco dependence. Moreover, high taxation in all three countries was considered least promising in the fight against obesity, although it is considered effective in combating alcohol and tobacco dependence. From the point of view of respondents, the most effective measure against obesity is an understandable nutritional labeling on food. Such markings are aimed primarily at the food choices of the individual. More understandable nutrition labels even make most of them more effective than clear warnings about the health risks of alcohol and tobacco products.

"A measure to prevent obesity, which is already receiving broad public support, is understandable nutrition labeling. They can strengthen people's decision-making powers and would be easy to implement, "says Ralph Hertwig, director of the research area" Adaptive Rationality "at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin. NIS, Max Planck Institute