Survey Information

The American Obesity Association conducted a survey of severely and morbidly obese adults to identify the unique challenges this group faces, such as health issues, barriers to intimacy in their relationships, job discrimination and obstacles to social interaction.

Health issues

The inability to exercise because of weight or weight-related health problems is the most significant barrier to achieving long-term weight loss for those surveyed.

• Almost half of survey respondents have tried to lose weight more than five times in the last five years, and one-quarter have tried more than 11 times, with dieting and exercise as the most popular weight-loss regimens

Barriers to intimacy

Survey participants who are married or in committed relationships are physically intimate with their partners less frequently than the general population.

• Of the 76 percent of survey participants who wanted more frequent

  physical intimacy with their partner, more than half (55%), and in

  particular 61 percent of women, believe weight has a negative

  impact on their intimacy. They believe weight impacts the overall

  frequency of physical intimacy, causes feelings of

  embarrassment, makes them hold back physically during

  intercourse, and for some, completely prevents them in engaging

  in sexual intercourse with their partner.

• Almost 40 percent of survey participants in committed

  relationships are physically intimate with their partners less than

  once per month, versus 17 percent of the general population.

Job discrimination

One-third of the respondents surveyed believe they have been turned down for employment because of their weight or appearance.

Obstacles to social interaction

Two-thirds of respondents (65%) 18-44 years of age feel like a spectator or outsider because of their weight.

In their own words

Survey participants shared the significant impact obesity has had on their lives and the challenges they face every day.

Health

“I am very afraid that I will not be able to

live long enough to raise my son, who isonly 21 months old.”

Obstacles to social interaction

“As a single mother of two boys I feel trapped inside all of this fat and am unable to do everything with my boys that I want to. I have been limited to watching instead of participating in a lot of activities because I run out of breath and cannot

keep up with everyone else.”

Employment

“I have been turned down for job promotions due to my weight, even though I was more qualified than the person who got the job over me. Several times in fact.”

Barriers to intimacy

“It holds me back and I feel that my husband would love me more if I wasn’t so heavy. It just makes me feel so insecure. I would love to have the confidence I used to have.”

Obstacles in everyday life

“ It’s awful knowing that I can't do normal things like sit in an airplane seat comfortably, ride horses, go on rides at theme parks, or even to sit down without having to check the sturdiness of the chair. ”