Survey Finds Higher Percentage of Men Than Women in Santa Clara County Who Say They Are Overweight, Obese
Men in Santa Clara County are more likely to be overweight but "much less likely to diet -- or even to try to stick with their current weight -- than women," according to a county survey released Friday, the San Jose Mercury News reports. According to the phone survey, which included responses from 2,645 county residents, 62% of male county residents are overweight or obese, compared with 42% of females.
Hispanic and African-American men in the county had obesity rates of 83% and 79%, respectively, according to the survey. About 37% of men said they were trying to lose weight, compared with 48% of women. About two-thirds of men said they were trying to maintain their current weight, compared with 74% of women.
According to the Mercury News, health experts said the actual percentage of overweight residents is probably "even higher because people sometimes lie about their weight." The last county survey, conducted in 2000, found that women had slightly higher rates of obesity than men.
Bonnie Broderick, program manager for the county Public Health Department's nutrition and wellness department, said that women feel more pressure to fit a certain body shape, adding that with the survey, "What we're saying to our girlfriends is 'Hallelujah, weight is not just a women's issue'" (Sevrens Lyons, San Jose Mercury News, 1/28).