Weight Loss Resources | Press Office

A new survey has revealed that nearly two thirds (62%) of people concerned with their weight believe employers have a responsibility to implement schemes that help staff maintain a healthy weight.

The survey by weightlossresources.co.uk – home to the UK’s largest nutritional database – is believed to be the largest survey ever conducted into attitudes toward fattism (discrimination based on weight) in today’s society. In total, more than 2,000 people concerned with their weight from the UK and USA took part in the survey, which launched in December 2005 and closed in mid- January 2006.

The survey’s key findings also included:

More than half (55%) of all people concerned with their weight believe fattism should be treated in the same way as sexism and racism.
More than 60% of people concerned with their weight say they have been bullied, made fun of or discriminated against because of their size.
Nearly 80% of those taking part in the survey say weight is becoming more of an issue in today’s society and is 50% more of an issue in the workplace.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of respondents say their weight has held back or hindered their career opportunities.
Over a fifth (21%) say their weight leads to work colleagues and associates undervaluing their abilities.

Commenting on the findings, Ms Pat Wilson, Member Services Manager of weightlossresources.co.uk, said: “These results demonstrate that fattism is unfortunately as real in today’s society as other forms of discrimination and bias.

“They also show that people concerned with their weight are often treated as third class citizens despite the fact that the number of people overweight in the UK and USA is increasing.

“The respondents also clearly feel employers and government have a role to play in encouraging and helping them lose weight and maintain a healthy body.”

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Note for Editors:

1. www.weightlossresources.co.uk is home to the UK’s largest nutritional database containing the calorie counts of more than 41,000 foods and drinks, uniquely updated and added to daily by staff and thousands of site members.

Founded in January 2001 by businesswoman Tracey Walton, the website receives in excess of 25,000 hits per day and additionally features pages and pages of useful weight loss and healthy eating advice and tools.

www.weightlossresources.co.uk is supported by leading dieticians, including Juliette Kellow BSc RD, and the medical profession, and has grown over the past four years to become the leading diet and healthy eating hub on the world-wide-web.

2. The fattism survey was conducted online at weightlossresources.co.uk. In total, 2051 visitors to the site completed the survey between December 2005 and mid-January 2006.

3. A data chart showing the responses to all the survey’s questions as pie charts and bar graphs is available upon request.

Contact for further information:

Ms. Pat Wilson

01733 345592

pressoffice@weightlossresources.co.uk