Koreans among most weight-conscious

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SEOUL: Koreans are more weight-conscious than their peers worldwide, a recent global survey found.

The 19-country poll on health habits was carried out in May this year by the U.S. survey firm Synovate.

According to the survey, only 5 percent of respondents globally said they weigh themselves daily and 15 percent said they do once a week.

In Korea, 28 percent said they weigh themselves once a week, the largest number next to Americans.

"Koreans, female and male alike, are very conscious about their appearance. Checking their weight and following a healthy diet is just one part of the story," explained Frank Jellinek, business development manager for Synovate Korea.

"There is enormous social pressure to look good, and being beautiful is equal to being successful. This is stimulated by the looks of Korean celebrities," he said, adding that fitness centers are growing "like mushrooms," especially in the Seoul area.

However, the most weight-conscious were the U.S. respondents, the survey said, with 12 percent of them weighing themselves daily.

"What's interesting is that some health studies suggest that weighing yourself frequently can help you lose weight or better keep your weight under control. If so, Americans may be at the forefront of taking advantage of this insight," said Greg Chu, senior vice president and head of Synovate's Custom Healthcare group in the U.S.

The survey also found that people still love fast food too much to give it up, even in today's more health-conscious world.

Twenty-six percent of the respondents said they tend to eat junk food when feeling down, led by the U.S. (47 percent), Canada (41 percent) and the U.K. (40 percent).

"There's nothing like a sugar or chocolate fix to make us happy, as many Brits know," said Jill Telford, CEO of Synovate in the U.K. "It may not be a coincidence that these markets indulging in comfort food are largely in the northern hemisphere, with the associated long winters and lack of sunlight, which are known to cause SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) syndrome."

U.S. Synovate Custom Healthcare head Chu: added "Particularly in these stressful economic times, the appeal of a cheeseburger at a drive-thru goes well beyond convenience to comfort."

Thirty-nine percent of people surveyed also agreed that life is too short to deny yourself what you want, even though it might be unhealthy. This was highest among respondents in Romania and Singapore at 55 percent, Korea (49 percent) and Argentina (47 percent).

Conversely, 84 percent of the respondents agreed that eating healthy food makes them feel better, led by Colombia, Egypt and Indonesia at 95 percent and Brazil and Chile at 94 percent.

The survey said this year's fast food fanatics were Saudi Arabians, with 58 percent of respondents agreeing that "they like the taste of fast food too much to give it up." They were followed by the U.S. (49 percent), Brazil (44 percent) and the U.K. (42 percent).

The top answers from the survey respondents on who or what is to blame when it comes to weight included: Unhealthy food habits like eating at irregular hours (17 percent); unhealthy food choices (17 percent); lack of exercise (16 percent); no self-discipline (11 percent); genetics (10 percent); and fast food (10 percent).

The poll, covering 13,155 people globally, was conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Korea, Netherlands, Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S.