Binge eating worse than cheating for Italians

Most Italians feel more guilty about over-eating than they do about cheating on their partners, a survey has found, suggesting that people in Casanova’s native land care more about staying slim than staying faithful.

The survey, by psychology magazine Riza Psicosomatica, found that excessive eating and spending topped the list of what people considered the most guilt-inducing vices.

Sexual infidelity came bottom of the list of the magazine’s “seven deadly sins,” behind neglecting friends and family, failing at work and not looking after one’s physique.

The survey of some 1,000 Italians between 25 and 55 years old found that religion played little part in determining what made people feel guilty, despite Italy’s Roman Catholic traditions.

Only seven percent of those questioned said religious rules induced guilt. The most powerful drivers of guilty feelings were the judgment of loved ones or the disapproval of society as a whole.

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: June 11, 2011
Last revised: by Dave R. Roger, M.D.