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UK and US 'keenest on fast food'
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Posted by: forwardone
The UK is the country most attached to fast food, closely followed by the United States, a survey has suggested.
A poll of 9,000 people in 13 nations, alongside a BBC investigation into global obesity, found vast variations in attitudes towards food and weight.
Many French get on the scales every day the poll found, while Singaporeans are the least likely to weigh themselves.
People are now said to be getting fatter in most of the world, with the exception of parts of Asia.
The three-day BBC series will look at the problems arising from the trend and what can be done about it.
This study, by market research firm Synovate, questioned 9,000 people in 13 countries across five continents.
OBESITY: WHAT PEOPLE BLAME
Food - 40%
Lack of exercise - 18%
Individual - 13%
Genetics - 11%
Few people blamed their government for rising levels of obesity: the largest number of respondents blamed the food that was now available.
People in the UK and the US were the most likely to nominate "no self discipline" as the leading factor in obesity.
These two nations also had the most respondents who said they would be unable to give up fast food.
Some 45% in the UK agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up", while 44% of Americans said they would be unable to give up their burgers, pizzas and chicken wings.
The survey also threw up some other interesting geographical variations.
The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola
Saudi Arabians and those from the United Arab Emirates were among the top consumers of low-fat food products, meal replacements and food supplements.
They were also the most interested in weight-loss courses, gym memberships and home exercise equipment.
"People are inherently contradictory and nowhere is it more obvious than on such a sensitive and important issue such as their weight," said Steve Garton of Synovate.
"The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola."
A recent study of men and women in 63 countries found between half and two-thirds of men were overweight or obese in 2006.
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BBC News