Obesity is a critical problem in the UK, with 1 in 4 people classified as obese. After a new report shed further light on the millions of obese people - saying that actually, a big part is that they fail to recognise they are obese - the TV show Daybreak invited guests on to discuss why that may be.
One of the guests was Helen Dee, from Surrey who at size 24 is classified as obese, yet says that the only time she is miserable is when she is on a diet, and would always choose chocolate over an apple. (Well, who wouldn't?)
She continued: I do feel healthy, but I know a lot of people will think otherwise. Personally, I feel healthy, happy and do everything I want to do."
One finding from the report, conducted by charity Nuffield Health, is that two-fifths of obese people aren't concerned about serious illness due to their weight. They aren't aware that obesity greatly increases a risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and instead think of themselves as 'overweight'.
"It's not that I don't want to be helped - I just don't want to diet. For me, a diet starts on a Monday and stops by a Tuesday. I have zero willpower and am not going to choose a salad over something greasy. I do love life, but even the healthiest people pass away."
Dr Hilary Jones was one of the other guests, who mentioned that one-third of obese people are likely to be depressed.
He said: "People like Helen don't want to indetify the truth in the stats. She says she is happy, but I think she could be happier."
However, when asked if she was aware of the health implications of her weight, she said: 'I have heard it time again, not just from doctors but from my family and friends.
'But do you know what? Everything that we like or are addicted to - and not just food, but drugs, cigarettes, whatever - someone has something to say. It's very easy to jump on the bandwagon.'
(H/T:Mail Online)