Greek Public Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Obesity

1

THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE
OF GREEK POPULATION
ON OBESITY

Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity (HMAO), Athens, Greece

Ioannis Kaklamanos, Aikaterini Mortoglou, Ioannis Ioannidis,
Philip Philippides, Themistoklis Tzotzas, Constantine Tsigos,
Aikaterini Gerodemou, Efthymios Kapantais

HELLENIC
MEDICAL 13th ECO, MAY 2004,
ASSOCIATION FOR PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
OBESITY

2

THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE
OF GREEK POPULATION
ON OBESITY
 The aim of this survey was:
 to determine the level of knowledge concerning obesity amongst
Greek people
 to measure their experience in weight loss methods

 The method used for the survey was a quantitative market research by
telephone interviews to subjects with the following profile:
 Males and females
 Aged 18-64 years old
 Urban, semi-urban and rural area inhabitants
 Overweight (self-reported)

 The interviews were carried out between 8/9 and 23/9/2003
HELLENIC
OBESITY

3
SAMPLE PROFILE
Base: Total Sample

55-64
18-34
28%
27%

SUBJECT SEX
Males
50% SUBJECT AGE

Females
50% 45-54
23%
35-44
22%

Rural
27% Athens
37%
AREA OF
INHABITANCE

Semi-
urban
HELLENIC 13%
Urban
23%
OBESITY

4
SAMPLE PROFILE
Base: Total Sample

Unknown Upper
SUBJECT ΒΜΙ Normal
5% 21%
weight
10%
SUBJECT
SOCIAL CLASS
Obese Lower
30% 32%

Over-
weight Middle
60% 42%

HELLENIC
OBESITY

5
METHODS USED FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Base: Total Sample

39
Healthy eating
43

23
Diet
43

39
Exercise
25

1
Weight loss centres
10

Males
28 Females
None
18

% 0 20 40 60 80 100

HELLENIC
OBESITY

6
FREQUENCY OF DIETING
Base: Subjects who have been on weight-reducing diets

I'm always dieting 13

8-11 times/year 2

5-7 times/year 2

3-4 times/year 9

2 times/year 22

once/year 27

less than once/year 20

% 0 20 40 60 80 100

HELLENIC
OBESITY

7
MEAN DURATION OF WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAMME

a few days 8

1 week 11

2-3 weeks 19

1 month 21

2 months 15

3 months 10

4-5 months 6

6 months 3

1 year 6

% 0 20 40 60 80 100

HELLENIC
OBESITY

8
WAYS MOST FREQUENTLY USED TO FIND
A WEIGHT-REDUCING DIET

Dietitian 24

Friend / Relative 20

Own diet 18 Aged 55-64 (33%)

Specialised doctor 12 Aged 55-64 (22%)

Weight loss centres 8 Urban area inhabitants (18%)

4% of subjects ask for the
advice of a trainer and 1% use
the Internet or food
Magazines 8 composition tables to measure
calories

% 0 20 40 60 80 100

HELLENIC
OBESITY

9
OBESITY IS A PROBLEM THAT MAINLY AFFECTS...
Base: Total Sample

Appearance
9%

Health
91%

HELLENIC
OBESITY

10
CONCLUSIONS
 Obesity, has become a serious health problem for the world population
which has been growing over the last decades. The majority of people is
aware of its serious health implications and the means to prevent it
effectively (frequent exercise, sound dietary habits etc.). Even so,
percentage of obesity amongst population remains high.

 Most people who decide to follow a weight loss programme do not ask for
help from the appropriate professionals such as doctors or dietitians. Not as
many are aware of the existence of the Hellenic Medical Association for
Obesity who’s aim is to inform the public on issues concerning obesity and
means for its treatment.

 General public, acknowledges obesity as a health problem and admits that a
healthy lifestyle with more exercise and better eating habits, is the best way
to deal with it. However, only a small percentage makes use of reliable
sources for weight loss.

 The final conclusion of this survey is that general public in Greece needs to
be better informed in two areas: first, on issues concerning obesity and its
health implications, and second, get acquainted with the existence and aims
of the Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity.
HELLENIC
OBESITY

Greek Public Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Obesity

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