[Health awareness as dominating impact factor on the development of overweight--a health questionnaire among the rural population of Austria].

Using a health survey among the rural population of Austria (n=12,484), risk factors for overweight and obesity are analysed. Health awareness turned out as essential mediator, which helps to promote a weight-stabilising life-style. An adverse health behaviour is often due to an unrealistic assessment of a risky overweight condition in connection with a negative attitude to reduce weight. Target groups should be informed about the clearly better health status in normal weight compared with that in overweight and obese people, in order to raise health awareness and motivate people at risk to undergo a modification of their life-style. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.