High prevalence and diminished awareness of overweight and obesity in a mediterranean population. An alarming call for action.

Introduction: The epidemic proportions of overweight, obesity and diabetes in most European countries stress the need for the implementation of an effective action plan for the prevention of cardiovascular (CV) disease. This ques-tionnaire study was designed to evaluate the viewpoint of the general population regarding the relative significance of CV risk factors in the cumulative risk of CV disease.

Methods: All participants answered a questionnaire regarding the self-reported presence of CV disease risk factors and the perceived notion of having excess weight.