Cebu City – The National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region VII joined World Obesity Day by joining the forum online organized by NNC on 3 March 2023 at the Sheraton Manila Bay Hotel aired live via its official FaceBook Page. World Obesity Day was established in 2015 as an annual campaign with the goal of encouraging and supporting practical actions that will assist people in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight as well as reversing the global obesity crisis.

The 2023 celebration that returns on 4 March carried the theme “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity”. Its goal is to change perspectives: to correct misconceptions, end stigmas and get everybody to make the decision to shift from single views to shared strategies.

Obesity as defined by the World Health Organization is an "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a risk to health". It is measured by Body Mass Index (BMI), though other methods, such as waist and height ratios, can be more accurate when combined with BMI.

Causes of Obesity
Obesity can take many forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We must all understand the complex causes of obesity to take action that is beneficial to our country, community, and our own bodies. A variety of factors contribute to obesity, including biological conformation, mental health, genetic risk, environment, healthcare access, and access to ultra-processed food. And lack of determination is not merely the only sole culprit.

Risk factors of Obesity
Obese people are more likely to develop other chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Obesity is also a risk factor for COVID-19 complications.

Obesity Is Not Just About Weight
Weight is one indicator of obesity, but treating obesity is about improving overall health, not just losing weight. A person with a higher BMI can manage their disease and maintain a healthy weight.

Ways to Reduce Obesity
Overweight and obesity can be prevented. It is important to create supportive environments and communities to help shape people’s choices, by making the healthier foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice (the choice that is the most accessible, available and affordable). The WHO suggest the following ways to prevent overweight and obesity.

At the individual level, people can:

• limit energy intake from total fats and sugars;
• increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and
• engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes spread through the week for adults).

The food industry also has a significant role to play in promoting healthy diets by:

• reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods;
• ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available and affordable to all consumers;
• restricting marketing of foods high in sugars, salt and fats, especially those foods aimed at children and teenagers; and
• ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and supporting regular physical activity practice in the workplace.

It is also important to note that obesity can have a significant impact on children's physical health, social and emotional well-being, and self-esteem. It is linked to poor academic performance as well as a lower quality of life. Because it frequently persists into adulthood, prevention and treatment are critical to ceasing the global obesity epidemic. // DMO II Gabe Henriel P. Sucalit, RND


Source: https://www.worldobesityday.org/