Heavy debt equals more pounds seen on the weighing scale. This is what a recent research in Germany shows. Overindebted individuals or those who find it impossible to pay off their dues in an imaginable and reasonable time are two times more likely to be overweight than the rest of the population. These people are also 2.5 times most likely to be obese.
The study estimates that about 3 million homes or about 7.6% of the German households are over-indebted. This forms part of a bigger picture which reveals a big jump in the number of families in the United States and European countries who have a big chunk of debt to pay. It has been established that socioeconomic status of individuals are directly linked to health. The study adds the factor of debt in evaluating the overall health of an individual.
The research involved 949 individuals from two centers in Germany who are undergoing counseling so they can handle their financial worries better. This group was compared to the result of a health survey conducted over the phone to represent the general populace with 8318 people in 2003.
The figures reveal that 25% of the individuals with considerable amount of debt are obese compared to only 11% of the general population. The indebted group proved to be more prone to obesity and depression. They were also found out to be younger, with less education, and belong to the lower financial bracket.
The proponents established that being over-indebted makes a person almost twice most likely to be overweight and about 2.56 times most likely to be obese. The group cites psychological factors for these figures and says people who have big a big debt may eat more to cope with the stress.