Weight and the way people want to see themselves, convinces lots of people to go on a diet and others to deceive themselves that they’re on a diet. The loss of a pound or two occasions delight and celebration, whereas the same two pounds going back the next day remains unannounced. Ring any bells for you?

Well normally, a porky or two about your weight doesn’t harm anyone other than perhaps yourself. But now life insurance companies are taking a much closer interest. They suspect that lots of people are carrying their creative assessment of their weight and height onto their life insurance application forms.

One of Britain’s largest life insurers, Scottish Provident, is tightening up its application procedures because experience has shown that applicants often lie about their weight. Now, as well as asking them their weight, they’ll be asked when they last weighed themselves. It’s a move to encourage them to answer more accurately rather than pluck a figure out of the air.

A spokesman from Scottish Provident said, “We know that people normally understate their weight, mainly because they are in denial about the subject, although there are also some people who will lie just to get cheaper premiums”.

The British are now the second most obese nation in Europe – second only to Greece. 21% of British adults are now classified as obese and a quarter of these do not want to lose weight despite the risks to their health according to a survey from by Cancer Research UK.

The British Medical Association considers any one with a body mass of 25 or more to be obese but most insurers are now using 30 as their limit. Above that figure and you’ll find that they will load your premium. Someone who is overweight may well see their premium loaded by 50% and extreme cases will be refused life insurance cover.

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