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7 out of 10 Spanish people recognize obesity as a disease
On November 25, 2024, GAD3 presented at a press conference organized by Novo Nordisk the study on the knowledge and perception of obesity in Spain. The study was presented at the Illustrious Official College of Doctors of Madrid, with the participation of Alba Ruiz, Director of Communication and CSR of Novo Nordisk Spain, Dr. Mar Malagón, President of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity and Elena Chaves, communication consultant of GAD3. Relevant data was provided, such as the fact that 75% of Spanish people already recognize obesity as a disease, but there are still great myths: 3 out of 4 people mistakenly believe that being overweight is completely preventable with a healthy lifestyle. 45% point out that one of the main causes of obesity is the influence of the genetic factor.
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An integral health issue
Obesity is associated with more than 200 comorbidities, from cardiovascular disease to depression. However, less than 40% of people measure their abdominal perimeter, a key health indicator. In addition, segmentation by sex is observed: on the one hand, men prioritize cardiovascular health by taking care of their weight (34%), and on the other hand, women focus more on their emotional health (33%). During menopause, cardiovascular risk rises, but only 5% of women recognize it as a major problem.
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But, what do we mean by Body Mass Index (BMI)?
The body mass index is a standardized formula that identifies if you are above a healthy weight according to your height. 8 out of 10 Spanish people say that they have ever exceeded their ideal weight, there is still a lack of knowledge about when there is a situation of overweight or obesity, and 2 out of 10 people do not know what their healthy weight would be. Although 93% say they know this term, only 55% explain it correctly. This data reflects a lack of knowledge about a basic tool to identify a healthy weight. The majority of those surveyed, 65%, mentioned that practicing exercise and following a slimming diet, 60%, would be their first options to lose weight, while a smaller percentage, 18%, would consider methods such as intermittent fasting or the use of drugs to lose weight, 13%.
Technical data
Universe: Population of legal age residing in Spain.
Scope: Spain (excluding the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla).
Method of administration: Online survey (CAWI).
Sample size: 3,078 interviews with quotas crossed by sex and age group, with an allocation in Andalusia (660), Catalonia (603), Community of Madrid (602), and the Basque Country (611).
Weighting: Weighting of the data by sex and age variables to achieve an adjustment to the real distribution of the population. The data in the report are weighted.
Interview duration: Approximately 7 minutes.
Fieldwork dates: October 22, 2024 to October 30, 2024.
