4 March – World Anti-Obesity Day

4 March is World Obesity Day. This day is dedicated to fighting the global obesity epidemic.

Obesity is a chronic disease with long-term negative health and economic consequences for society as a whole. The prevalence of obesity in all age groups has progressively increased globally in recent decades. According to WHO, over 39% of adults over 18 years are overweight, of which 13% are obese. This growing trend suggests that 60% of the world’s total population will be overweight or obese by 2030. There is also a worrying trend of increasing prevalence in children under the age of 18, with the latest figures indicating that 41 million children are overweight or obese. Bulgaria ranks fifth in Europe in terms of childhood obesity.

Overweight and obesity account for 44% of type 2 diabetes mellitus, 23% of coronary heart disease and 7-41% of some cancers. Common co-morbidities in these patients are gallbladder and liver disease (steatosis, steatohepatitis), osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea, breast, endometrial, colorectal, kidney, oesophageal, liver and pancreatic cancer. Overweight at the same time leads to various neuro-psychiatric and mental disorders, severely impairs the quality of life. The main causes of the growing epidemic of overweight are considered to be the drastically changed food environment with a significant increase in processed foods, which are highly caloric, nutrient-poor, yet affordable and highly promoted, and greatly reduced physical activity .

Overweight and obesity are determined by a number of factors – eating habits, physical activity, age, gender, family history, geographical features of a given area, stress, etc.

It has been found that as weight increases, so does the health risk. The link between excess weight and certain cancers, a number of circulatory diseases, type II diabetes, digestive diseases, etc. has long been established.

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of arterial hypertension by 2 to 6 times. A number of studies have shown that the most effective way to address this problem is through weight loss programmes involving lifestyle changes with several key elements – diet, exercise, change in eating habits, drug therapy.

In Bulgaria, the European initiative brings together nutritionists and medical professionals, patient communities and a range of organisations in an effort to curb overweight and obesity in support of people with this problem. Nutrition recommendations for children aged 3 to 7 years include limiting salt and sugary products, soft drinks and including a daily intake of fruit and vegetables, cereals and potatoes in their menus. Children should also be provided with sufficient water intake.

The recommendations are similar for older people – daily consumption of more than 400 g of a variety of fruits and vegetables, more intake of lean meats and fish, and limiting salt and fat intake. It is extremely important to know that obesity prevention begins in childhood and adolescence, and an important role is played here by the family, medical professionals and teachers in building and reinforcing healthy lifestyle habits, healthy eating and physical activity and sport.

Package “Metabolic syndrome” – promotional price until the end of March 44 BGN.