Swimsuit fear keeps female holidaymakers off beach

Sun, sand and stress is becoming the theme for millions of holidays with women petrified by the prospect of stripping off, researchers said .

By The Newsroom

Published 31st May 2010, 00:26 BST

Updated 31st May 2010, 00:27 BST

Almost 75 per cent dread the thought of wearing a swimming costume in public while four in 10 feel unable even to set foot on a beach, according to an online survey.

The holiday nightmares can begin as soon as women set foot on the plane, with 21 per cent saying they dread fitting into tight airline seats, the YouGov research for Slimming World said.

Dr Jacquie Lavin, of Slimming World, said: "Most women worry about their bodies sometimes and there's nothing like the thought of stripping off on a crowded beach to bring those anxieties to the forefront."

In the survey of more than 3,300 women, more than 73 per cent of women said wearing a swimming costume was their most feared summertime pursuit. In second place 62 per cent of women said they dreaded wearing other types of revealing clothes when the sun comes out.

Slimming World said losing weight in the summer helps boost self esteem.