Fat South Africans are in denial about their health.

A survey released yesterday, in which 500 men and women from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban were polled, showed that almost two out of three (61%) of them were overweight, obese or morbidly obese.

The survey conducted by healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline found that 52% of morbidly obese people - who were extremely fat - believed that they were somewhat healthy or very healthy.

While 74% of South Africans know a fat person when they see one, only 34% see themselves in the same way.

The survey also found that:

• 49% of South Africans did not exercise;
• 71% of them had never been on a diet;
• 78% of obese people thought they were somewhat healthy or very healthy;
• Capetonians are the most overweight (72%), then residents of Pretoria (68%), Johannesburg (59%) and Durban (52%);
• 42% were not concerned at all about their health; and
• 47% thought it was important to exercise.

Cardiologist Dr Jeff King blamed inactivity and consumption of lots of carbohydrates.