A new poll has found that more than a quarter of obese and overweight people do not want to lose weight,and there are many more who are unaware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
The Cancer Research UK poll also found that more than half of the 4,000 people surveyed were overweight or obese, but 26 percent of them said they did not want to lose weight.
Some 87 percent of obese and 32 percent of overweight people were unable to identify their weight category. And nearly three-quarters said they did not know there was a link between cancer and weight and nearly half did not believe eating healthily could reduce cancer risk.
Obesity is linked with an increased risk of bowel, kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancers, as well as cancer of the womb and breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
"It is worrying to think that people are in denial about their weight. People who carry extra weight face significant health risks including cancer.
Obesity is one of the biggest known preventable causes of cancer for those who don't smoke. These results show too many of those at greatest risk are choosing to ignore their weight,"Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, was quoted by the BBC,as saying.
{{/usCountry}}Obesity is one of the biggest known preventable causes of cancer for those who don't smoke. These results show too many of those at greatest risk are choosing to ignore their weight,"Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, was quoted by the BBC,as saying.
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