SPANISH people have more 'extreme' perceptions of their body size than any other citizens in Europe, with the slim believing they are very thin and the slightly overweight believing they are obese.
Marketing consultancy Nielsen carried out a health and wellbeing survey in which they asked Europeans to give their own opinion on their body size.
Whilst 27% of Spaniards believe themselves to be underweight, only 8% of the rest of Europe thought this about themselves.
But whilst 39% of Europeans considered themselves to be an 'ideal weight', only 28% of Spaniards thought this way.
The Greeks are those who most believe their weight is 'normal', with 53% claiming to be within healthy ranges.
And where Europeans on average think they are overweight in just 5% of cases, a total of 25% of Spaniards asked admitted they believed they were carrying too many kilos.
Only between 1% and 3% of the French, Italians and Portuguese considered themselves overweight.
Spanish people are the second-most diet-conscious, with 56% currently taking steps to lose weight, beaten only by 57% in the Republic of Ireland, whilst citizens in Latvia are the least likely to increase exercise levels and go on diets with a view to slimming down – possibly because they already believe their body weight is healthy enough.
In general, two-thirds of Europeans cut down their fat intake to lose weight, whilst 64% reduce sugar and chocolate consumption, 54% eat more fresh produce, a third eats the same foods but in smaller portions, 29% eat fewer processed foods and 11% cuts down on carbohydrates.
Losing weight in Spain mainly involves buying low-fat and low-salt produce, and sugar-free soft drinks – but those trying to shed extra kilos do not want to spend any more money doing so, with 80% saying they are not prepared to bear any extra costs in their weight-loss programme.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com