Only 21% of Israelis are on a diet (illustration)
Photo: Index Open
Nearly half of Israelis are overweight
Central Bureau of Statistics figures show more men suffer from obesity than women; 54% of population interested in losing weight
Nearly half of Israelis – 49% - are overweight, according to figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics last week. More men suffer from obesity than women.
In practice, only 21% of the population are on a diet: 17% of men and 26% of women.
A survey conducted by the CBS reveals that more than half of the population (54%) is interested in losing weight. Another 34% are interested in keeping their current weight. Women are more interested in losing weight than men (60% compared to 47%).
Weighty Problem
Sarit Rosenblum
OECD report indicates 26% of Israeli children suffer from excessive weight, compared to 33% in US. Adult obesity rates lower at 17%
According to the findings, 50% of Israelis engage in physical exercise at least once a week (46% among people aged 65 and up). Thirty-one percent engage in physical exercise at least three times a week: Men (35%) more than women (28%), Jews (33%) more than Arabs (20%) and seculars (35%) more than religious Jews (32%) and haredim (30%).
Engaging in physical exercise at least three times a week is more common among overweight people (33%) and normal-weight people (32%) than among those suffering from obesity (26%).
Sixty percent of normal-weight Israelis believe they are in "very good health", while only 45% of overweight Israelis and 29% of obese Israelis share the same belief about themselves.
Sixty-eight percent of the population eat fruit and vegetables on a regular basis, and 31% exercise the habit of eating natural food products like whole-grain rice and products made of whole-wheat flour.
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