Obesity Week: October 29th-November 2nd

India is at the Brink of An Obesity Tsunami

Every Sixth Individual on Earth is Obese

​This week is Obesity Week, happening between October 29th and November 2nd. It is a unique, international event focused on the basic science, clinical application, surgical intervention and prevention of obesity. It brings together world-renowned experts in obesity to share innovation and breakthroughs in science unmatched around the globe. Surgeons, clinicians, physicians and scientists comprise the major lot of the attendees with students, assistant professors, administrative people and other people constituting the rest of the population.

Facts on Obesity/ Overweight
Abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that posts health hazards is defined as obesity/overweight. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of obesity and is calculated using a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters). While a person with a BMI of 25 is considered to be overweight, people with a BMI equal to or greater than 30 are said to be obese.

Obesity has become an epidemic, with at least 2.8 million people dying each year because of being obese or overweight. Generally known to prevail among high-income countries, obesity has affected middle- and low-income countries as well.

1. More than 1.9 billion adults were overweight in 2016 and 650 million were obese. The obesity rates almost tripled between 1975 and 2016.
2. Worldwide, 41 million preschool children were overweight in 2016. Childhood obesity is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Overweight children mostly grow up to become obese adults being more susceptible to diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
3. More deaths happen due to overweight and obesity compared to underweight, globally. Diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and certain cancers are associated with obesity and overweight.
4. In individuals, obesity is the result of an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expelled. When people start eating calorie-dense foods without increasing their exercise level, it results in an unhealthy weight gain.
5. The environment and the community in which a person lives are predominant in shaping people’s choices. We cannot blame the individuals completely unless they have 100-percent access to a healthy lifestyle. The Obesity Week also looks into this goal of creating a healthy environment and making healthier foods available easily at a nominal price.
6. The surrounding environment influences a child’s diet & physical activity. A society’s overall development and policies in the areas of agriculture, transport, urban planning, education, environment and food processing affect children’s food habits and exercise patterns as well.
7. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can prevent obesity. Though an often-used word, the understanding of this term is essential in achieving the nuances of this diet. The website www.firsteatright.com elaborates on the foods that make a diet well-balanced and the nutrients present in each of these foods.
8. Daily exercise/physical activity helps in keeping an individual’s body healthy and active. Adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer. This should include at least two days of strength-training exercises as well.
9. Obesity has become an epidemic. Curbing this epidemic needs a population-based multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary and cultural approach.
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Although obesity is preventable, people are least concerned about this. Disease rates have increased, consumption of healthy foods have decreased and priority given to physical activity has reduced greatly. The solution to all this is leading a healthy lifestyle with overall physical well-being.