Most Brits unaware of obesity and sight loss link

Most Britons are unaware that being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of sight loss, a new report suggests.

According to a report by charity Eyecare Trust and healthcare provider Simplyhealth, only 8% of people associate obesity with sight loss, despite weight being a major risk factor in the onset and progression of many sight-threatening eye conditions.

Iain Anderson, Chairman of the Eyecare Trust, warned: “Carrying excess weight causes pulmonary problems which can lead to irrevocable damage to the delicate blood vessels in the eye.

"A Body Mass Index of 30 or more doubles your risk of age-related macular degeneration – the UK’s leading cause of blindness – and significantly increases your chances of developing cataracts or glaucoma.”

As more than half of all UK adults are above their recommended weight, with around 23% classed as obese, the charity warns that millions of Brits are at risk of poor vision or worse, including total sight loss.

Although regular sight tests are vital for the early diagnosis and treatment of these eye conditions, the National Eye Week ‘See the Benefit’ poll found that obese people were the group least likely to visit their optician.

Worryingly, the survey also found that those with a BMI in excess of 25 are most likely to believe their eyes are in a state of ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health.

The Eyecare Trust recommends that everyone has an eye examination every two years, unless advised otherwise by an optometrist.

Sight tests can also act as essential general health checks by uncovering other underlying health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and an increased risk of stroke.

During National Eye Week, which runs between November 9th and 15th, the charity aims to increase awareness of the importance of regular eye tests, and how lifestyle changes can benefit future eye health.

This article was published on Tue 10 November 2009