BY CHERYL LIM

ONLY about 40 per cent of Singaporeans here lose weight because of health reasons, such as having high cholesterol levels, a survey here has found.

The rest want to lose weight because of social reasons such as feeling inferior, wishing to please their partners, and wanting to avoid discrimination at work.

And some of them wanted to lose weight even though they were already underweight.

The survey, commissioned by skincare Nu Skin Enterprises and conducted three to four months ago, polled 745 Singaporeans - of whom 671 were women - who wanted to lose weight.

The respondents of the survey had a body mass index (BMI) of between 14 and 34.

For Asians, a BMI of between 18.5 and 23 is considered healthy.

Those with a BMI below 18.5 are underweight and at risk of nutritional-deficiency diseases and osteoporosis.

Those who score between 23 and 27.5 are at moderate risk of obesity-related health problems, while those who score above 27.5 are at high risk.

Dr Leslie Tay, a general practitioner who runs his own clinic and a popular food blog, ieatishootipost.sg, said that it was not healthy to want to lose weight to please a spouse.

This indicates self-esteem issues that overweight people can have, he said.

"A high percentage of overweight people, compared to the general population, have low self-esteem. It's conceivable that they think their husbands are cheating, or interested in other women, which may or may not be true," he said.

So they "lose weight to get affirmation from their husbands because they're afraid they would fall for somebody else", he added.

But if it came down to that, it does not speak positively of the marriage, he said.

He added: "It's not a sign of a very good marriage, and points to a one-sided relationship. You marry a person for who he or she is."

Career and social obstacles that fat people face can also drive them to try to lose weight.

"There are some jobs unavailable to them", which emphasise on image and presentation, said Dr Tay.

These jobs include those "in the frontline like air stewardess and other frontline staff", Dr Tay added.

In addition, some overweight people experience negative prejudice at the workplace because of their weight.

Mr Michael Chen, president of Nu Skin Enterprises in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, explained that there is a negative perception of fat people in the workplace as being "stupid".

This can aggravate their insecurities, and cause them to seek drastic measures like starving themselves, he said.

Dr Tay said: "It's a problem with our society that we don't accept them."

In fact, about 10 per cent of his patients who seek weight-loss treatments become depressed because of their failure to lose weight.

Experts generally agreed that the best reason to want to shed the kilos is for health improvement.

Obese patients are at high risk of contracting diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnoea, said Dr Chin Khong Ling from Healthway Medical Health Assessment Centre in Novena.

"I would recommend patients to measure their BMI as well as to adopt healthy food choices in their daily diet plus exercises ? ranging from brisk walking to using the stairs," Dr Chin said.

Ms Eleanor Wong, 51, a nurse, was prompted to lose weight by concerns over potential obesity-related health problems.

The amount of her fat in her body, at 36 per cent of her body weight of 62kg, was high.

After a regime of a controlled diet - in which she halved her daily food portions - brisk walking and light stretches, she lost 12 kg over six months.

"Diet for the right reasons.

First, be healthy, and then look good," she said.