ZAGREB, 23 Jan (Hina) – Two thirds of adults in Croatia believe they are overweight, while nearly half have never received concrete advice from a doctor on weight management, according to a survey by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

The survey, conducted with Ipsos in January on a representative online sample of 401 people aged 18-60, found that 65% consider themselves overweight, with almost one in five describing the excess weight as significant. At the same time, 47% said they had never been given specific guidance on weight control by their physician.

Results also show that 76% of respondents make New Year’s health-related resolutions, but six in ten abandon them within the first three months. Only one in five seeks professional help, most often from personal trainers or nutritionists.

Novo Nordisk said obesity should be treated as a chronic disease requiring a holistic and compassionate approach. Globally, one in seven people lives with obesity, and the number is expected to reach two billion within the next decade, posing serious health and economic challenges.

At the European level, 43% of citizens are unaware that the World Health Organization classifies obesity as a chronic disease, while 55% of people with obesity cite lack of support as the main obstacle to long-term weight management.

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