Obesity is now becoming one of the main threats of the 21st century because of the consequences it brings. It is a worldwide problem, affecting men and women equally, regardless of social status. Today, in most countries, 30% to 80% of adults are overweight.

Children are also affected by obesity. In the WHO European Region, overweight is the most common childhood health problem. Currently, about 20 per cent of children are overweight and a third of these are obese. Obese children have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep problems as well as psychosocial problems.

Obesity is the result of unwanted weight gain caused by a positive energy balance - consuming more calories than a person uses.

Obese people have an increased risk of developing a number of serious conditions, such as insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension and strokes, gallbladder disease, certain types of cancer (endometrial, ovarian, breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, gallbladder, pancreatic, liver and kidney cancer) and the emergence of psychosocial problems.

The causes of the obesity epidemic are many. It is most often caused by a poor diet, i.e. the consumption of fatty meals, products containing large amounts of sugar, the lack of fruit and vegetables in the diet and low physical activity. Of course, genetic factors can also influence the incidence of obesity.

Obesity and mental illness

Excessive body weight can consequently lead to the appearance of certain symptoms that may be related to mental illness. Studies have shown that people over 25 years of age with obesity receive little social support, especially from their immediate family, and experience high levels of stress. In terms of social life, obese people are less likely to go out to the cinema or theatre and meet up with friends than people who are of a normal weight. Much less physical activity has also been observed, including less frequent walking, which is a factor that exacerbates the persistence of excess body weight. It is possible that the poorer social life observed in obese people is related to low self-esteem caused by physical appearance.

As a consequence, obesity can lead to depression, mood disorders, increased levels of aggression or sexual dysfunction. Along with obesity, there are also eating disorders such as binge eating disorder (BED), reported by as many as 30 per cent of obese people who are patients of counselling centres and various centres for the treatment of obesity, night eating syndrome (NES), often found among patients with morbid obesity, bulimia nervosa, and various types of addiction, often including food addiction.

Prevention of obesity

Prevention is better than cure, so it is important to establish good habits already in children and adolescents. It is important to have a balanced diet, eating the right foods in the right quantities, which will help support a healthy growth cycle in the young body. Carbonated drinks and other products high in sugar and artificial additives should be avoided. Regular physical activity is important - even walking short distances can help maintain a healthy weight.

In summary

Obesity is a problem that requires attention not only from a nutritional point of view, but also from a psychological one. It is important to be aware of the risks, especially when obesity can be prevented so easily. Therefore, it is important to take care of a proper diet every day and to spend your free time actively.

way4cure.com

24 October - World Obesity Day

Related

Topics

See also in

WE RECOMMEND CATEGORY CONTENT Other topics