from Journal of Health and Social Behavior
With obesity on the rise in this country,
researchers at the University of Colorado
have discovered an issue that makes fighting
obesity more difficult. In counties where
obesity is particularly prevalent, being obese
seems acceptable. The study found that
being of normal weight has little benefit
where obesity is common. The study
appears in the Journal of Health and Social
Behavior and sampled more than a million
people about their satisfaction with life. It
shows the difference in life satisfaction
between obese and non-obese women is
smaller in counties where obesity is prevalent
and the difference is almost non-existent
among men in those counties. The
researchers say the findings may offer
additional insight into why obesity prevalence
has increased so dramatically in recent years.