World Obesity Day 2023- Changing Perspectives
An estimated 97 million adults in the United States, (which works out to roughly 55% of the population) , are either overweight or obese! According to the figures from the UK, (data from 2021) 26% of the population are obese, however 38% of the population are overweight. This is the largest increase within the last 15 years across both sexes and groups,
Obesity is considered a major health problem in both the
United States and the UK and has now been declared as an epidemic by The Center
for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 300,000 people die every year due
to obesity related diseases.
According to endocrinologists, Obesity targets every organ
system in the body, which results in various complicated and acute problems.
For example, heart malfunctioning, diabetes, sleep disorders, arthritis amongst
others. Apart from physical ailments,
people suffering from obesity also face some psychological problems like
depression, mood swings, appearance consciousness as well as lack of
self-confidence. The following are the effects of obesity, and obesity related
issues:
- The heart must work overtime to support the extra weight. Obesity has a harmful effect on the entire cardiovascular system. This includes the heart, lungs, arteries and the veins.
- There may be issues with breathing, including developing sleep apnoea
- The extra weight will take a toll on the joints, which could be linked to developing gout. This is when the uric acid that cannot be excreted collects in the joints of the toes.
- Obesity can be linked to developing type 2 Diabetes.
- Being overweight and obesity are linked with increased risks of gall bladder disease, incontinence, increased surgical risk, and depression.
- Obesity can affect the quality of life through limited mobility and decreased physical endurance.
Based on the points above it is even more important to
manage our weight and our lifestyle. So the big question is how and what can we
do?
One of the factors that has become popular is due to the rise
social media and their uses, which also classed as the Sedentary lifestyle. Due
to technological advancements, modern equipment’s like washing machines,
dishwashers, cars, Lifts, remote controls, mobile phones are being used increasingly
as substitutes of physical and manual labour. Today without much bodily
exertion even the most tedious of tasks can be accomplished very quickly. For example,
ordering shopping online rather than going to the supermarket. Watching television,
playing computer games encourages inactivity and may encourage them to consume
high-calorie snacks, which can also have high amounts of salt and sugar. This can
result in decreased physical activity.
World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the
following for individuals to manage and reduce obesity:
- Limit energy intake from total fats and sugars
- · Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, including whole grains and nuts
- T increase physical activity amounts to 60 minutes a day for children and at least double for adults.
There is also a UK guide to eating well on this post here:Eating well
I have yet to cover the American Healthy Eating plate, so was happy to research and learn about this and share with you all. The healthy eating plate was developed back in 2011 by Harvard University’s Public Health Team. The aim was to produce an eating plan for better health.
Longevity and healthy aging have now become a trend post covid-19 Pandemic. People are looking for more ways to live longer, and the healthy eating plate may provide that solution. So what is the Healthy eating plate? It is a diet which prioritises vegetables and fruits for half of each meal and supplement the other half with whole grains and healthy proteins.
Vegetables and fruits should be the majority
in most meals (1/2 of your plate) When plating your vegetables, aim for colour
and variety, and eat more vegetables than fruits,
Add in whole grains
(1/4 of your plate) Whole grains have much more vitamins, phytochemicals and
minerals, which will not raise blood sugar levels as quickly. Great examples of
these are Oats, Quinoa, Barley Whole wheat (including whole wheat bread and
pasta) as well as Brown rice
Make sure protein is
included in this (1/4 of your plate) Some healthy proteins includes: Fish,
Chicken, Beans, Nuts, and duck. Aim to limit your red meat consumption, and
reduce the consumption of processed meats like bacon and sausage.
Cook with healthy
oils (in moderation) In order to avoid consuming unhealthy trans fats. Examples
of these includes Olive, Canola, Soy, Corn, Sunflower and Peanut oil
Another point to add is the behaviour change. Changing our behaviour
is a key component to managing our weight and reducing the chances of obesity.
Going on these short-term diets can cause people to lose weight drastically,
however over time there is no change in the behaviour and habits. Obesity is a
lifestyle, and conquering obesity is a lifestyle also. Losing focus is a common
problem with those who are trying to lose weight and keep it off.
World Obesity Day is a yearly awareness day to raise awareness of the dangers of obesity around the world. This was set up by the World Obesity Federation and its global members. This aim of this is to tackle stigma, educate everyone, and understanding the prevention and treatment of the disease. This year's campaign is "changing perspectives" this is all about correcting misconceptions surrounding obesity, and take action. More information about this can be found on this website here: World Obesity Day
The mission of World Obesity Day are as follows:
- Increase awareness
- encourage advocacy
- improve policies
- Share experiences
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