Obese people are aware of the risks, but do not yet seek medical help

• 2025-11-12 09:00:00
• Research

According to a recent national representative survey conducted by Szinapszis on behalf of Novo Nordisk among the Hungarian population, 88 percent of those who want to lose weight consider the prevention of future diseases to be important. This suggests that the majority are aware that being overweight and obese is not merely an aesthetic issue, but a condition that carries serious complications. Despite this, many people still do not seek medical help.

 

According to a survey conducted by Szinapszis involving 2,000 adults aged 18–65 to map obesity-related issues[1], there are complex reasons behind the excess weight of Hungarians. Respondents most often cited a lack of regular exercise (43%) and poor diet (40%), but one in four also mentioned stress as a cause. This clearly shows that weight problems can be caused not only by a lack of exercise or poor diet, but also by a hectic lifestyle and stress. Many reported patterns carried over from childhood, which shows that behavioral and environmental factors are also essential in weight control. Nearly 60% of respondents living in households with at least two people live with at least one other person who is struggling with weight issues. Shared habits, shopping routines, and daily rhythms can be both a support and an obstacle to change.

 

According to Balázs Kertész, managing director of Szinapszis Kft., "80% of obese respondents said that weight loss is an important goal, but only one-third consider it truly important. Motivations are multifaceted: in addition to physical appearance and improved physical performance, maintaining health and preventing disease can also influence decisions to lose weight."

 

Although 88 percent of those surveyed who wanted to lose weight said that avoiding future illnesses motivated them to lose weight, and 83 percent of those who admitted to being overweight said they see their family doctor, only 53 percent reported that weight management was discussed during their visits. This represents a significant untapped opportunity, as doctors can provide the most effective support in weight management, since the goal of obesity treatment is not only weight loss, but above all the prevention of serious cardiovascular diseases.

 

"One of the most serious long-term consequences of obesity is cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are several reasons for this. As BMI increases, blood pressure rises and lipid profiles deteriorate, leading to cardiovascular problems. Epicardial (on the surface of the heart) adipose tissue directly affects the coronary arteries, promoting atherosclerosis and contributing to the development of atrial fibrillation. The goal, therefore, goes beyond weight loss: the focus is on maintaining long-term health and quality of life," explains Prof. Dr. Péter Torzsa, associate professor, family doctor, and occupational health specialist.

 

The study also highlighted that the incidence of comorbidities is already high among overweight people of working age (18-65). Nearly half of those affected have already experienced high blood pressure, a third have high cholesterol or chronic musculoskeletal complaints, and almost a fifth have diabetes.

 

These figures clearly show that excess weight not only impairs individual quality of life, but also places a serious burden on the healthcare system.

 

Obesity is a global public health challenge

The prevention and treatment of obesity and its complications is an urgent task at the global level. By 2030, nearly half of the world's adult population—about 3 billion people—could be overweight or obese, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2025 (WOA 2025) published by the World Obesity Federation. According to the WOA 2025 findings, approximately 44 million years of life spent in ill health can be attributed to high BMI. The greatest burden is caused by diabetes (21.8 million years) and stroke (1.1 million years). The mortality data are no less alarming: high BMI is responsible for 55 percent of premature deaths due to type 2 diabetes, while it plays a role in 16 percent of ischemic heart disease deaths, 7 percent of stroke deaths, and 9 percent of cancer deaths. In the case of "other" diseases, such as liver or kidney disease, obesity is responsible for 16 percent of premature deaths.[2]

 

[1] The research was conducted online using a self-administered questionnaire (CAWI) in May 2025; N=2000, aged 18–65, nationally representative sample (by gender/age/region/type of settlement). The target group for the more detailed analysis was people who are overweight or obese (N=933). The study mapped current health status, weight loss motivations and efforts, and information related to weight management. The research was commissioned by NovoNordisk.

[2] World Obesity Atlas 2025, https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wof-files/World_Obesity_Atlas_2025_rev1.pdf