World Obesity Day (October 11th)

Obesity is a Preventable Disorder

World Obesity Day was launched in 2015 with the goal of stimulating and supporting practical solutions to help people achieve a healthy body weight. The theme for this year’s campaign (2017) is ‘treat obesity now and avoid the consequences later’. This raises the responsibility on governments, health care service providers and philanthropic societies to prioritize investments in tackling rising obesity rates.

Indians are becoming more and more familiar with the terms ‘obesity’ and ‘overweight’ as this disorder is spreading like forest fire worldwide and in India, especially.

Obesity and overweight are defined as excessive fat accumulation that may result even in death. Worldwide, obesity has tripled since 1975 and around 1.9 billion adults are overweight (650 million are obese), according to WHO statistics. If the same trend continues, almost 2.7 billion adults will suffer from overweight and obesity by 2025 worldwide. Obesity in children has also increased tenfold in 2016 (124 million) compared to 1975 (11 million). By 2022, more children and adolescents (aged 5-19) will be obese than underweight, if the same trend continues. This calls for some extreme steps to curb obesity and overweight.

How is Obesity Measured?
There are several methods to measure excess adipose tissue and the Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most common among them. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height used to classify overweight and obesity. Adults having a BMI greater than 30 are said to be obese.

What Causes Obesity & Overweight?
An increased intake of energy-rich foods high in fats and sugars and increased physical inactivity are the two main reasons for this obesity epidemic. We are exposed to umpteen junk foods that contain empty calories with no nutritional value. Burgers, French fries, pizzas and varieties of sweets and chocolates have invaded the supermarkets and it has become almost impossible to stay away from these foods.

Our sedentary forms of work, urbanization and easy transportation facilities have decreased the physical strain experienced by individuals but have increased the physical health problems greatly. Low socioeconomic status is also a risk factor for obesity. Studies also prove that child and adolescent obesity rates are accelerating faster than ever in low- and middle-income countries compared to developed countries.

Effects of Obesity & Overweight
The risk for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes, some cancers and even premature death increases with rise in BMI values.

What is the Solution?
Overweight and obesity are preventable. A change in lifestyle greatly affects obesity. The more active your lifestyle is, the more minimal is the chance of obesity in your life. Some important lifestyle modifications include:
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• Eat a balanced diet from all five food groups. Fruits and vegetables should occupy one half of the plate, at least half the grains consumed should be whole grains, proteins should be consumed in rotation and dairy products should constitute low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and soy beverages.
• Limit intake of added sugars, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium.
• Do regular physical activity. Adults are advised to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity workout every week and children must engage in 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
  
  

Acquiring genetic diseases is not in our hands. But, maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing this obesity epidemic is definitely within our reach. All that is needed is a positive perspective. We are not here to lose weight to look good for others. Instead, we must lose weight for our own health and goodness. Take an oath on this day today to start fighting against accumulating body fat. Change your lifestyle for the better and adopt one that includes healthy eating habits and regular activity. If you are unable to monitor the weight loss yourself, get in touch with a registered dietitian nutritionist at www.firsteatright.com to help you lose your excess fat deposits and achieve a healthy body weight.