Everybody Needs To Act

All or most of us can attest to the unwelcomed weight gain over the last two years. The last two years have been stressful for the majority of us. We have lost loved ones to the coronavirus; many of us have also contracted and have recovered from COVID-19. Children have had to adapt to online learning platforms while working from home became very common during the pandemic. In times of stress it’s not uncommon to gain a few extra pounds; and gain a few pounds we did. Obesity is one of the most severe public health challenges facing the world today. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. The issue has grown to epidemic proportions, with over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease. Once considered a problem only in high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1 billion people globally are obese; 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents and 39 million children. This number is still increasing. WHO estimates that by 2025, approximately 167 million people; adults and children will become less healthy because they are overweight or obese. In Jamaica, data from the 2016/17 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey showed that one in two Jamaicans or 54 per cent were overweight or obese. The data further revealed that women are more affected by overweight/obesity, with two-thirds of Jamaican women 15 years or older being overweight or obese. Recent findings from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (2017) show that obesity is increasing for boys and has almost doubled from 5.3 per cent to 10.3 per cent, and from 6.7 per cent to 9.9 per cent for girls. Obesity is a disease impacting most body systems. It affects the heart, liver, kidneys, joints, and reproductive system. It leads to a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, various forms of cancer, as well as mental health issues. People with obesity are also three times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19. World Obesity Day is observed on March 4 to promote practical solutions to end the global obesity crisis. The theme this year is: Everybody Needs To Act. The WHO is responding to the global obesity crisis on many fronts. This includes monitoring global trends and prevalence, the development of a broad range of guidance addressing the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. The WHO states that countries need to work together to create a better food environment so that everyone can access and afford a healthy diet. What causes obesity and overweight? The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Globally, there has been: an increased in energy dense foods which are high in fats and sugars and an increase in physical inactivity especially for those in urban areas. The terms energy dense refers to the amount of calories present in any given serving of food, normally measured per portion size or per 100g. High-energy-dense foods are foods include things like peanut butter, butter, eggs, avocados, ice cream, cheese and bacon. The WHO declares that changes in dietary and physical activity patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with development and lack of supportive policies in sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing, distribution, marketing, and education. Generally speaking we are all susceptible to becoming obese, however, people living in poverty are more prone to becoming obese. It can be argued that the poorer one is the greater the possibility that the person will not have the disposable income required to eat healthy. Many single working class mothers go to food tend to be frozen meal or canned meals which tend to be high in fats and sugars. Gender, ethnicity and education also play a significant role. Ethnicity also plays a significant difference in obesity rates, with minorities having higher rates of obesity. One’s socioeconomic reality is associated with obesity. There tends to be fewer parks and recreational facilities in their neighborhoods. They also tend to experience higher levels of crime and violence, which can make outdoor activity more restrictive. Low-income families are more likely to be food insecure, meaning those families do not always have the means to eat regularly. Even in instances where such families are not food insecure, many cannot afford fresh food, instead having to purchase heavily processed items. Practical Steps In tacking obesity the society needs to examine the social programmes which are in place or need to be in place to support low-income families to give them the opportunity to make choices. Unfortunately, working class families oftentimes sacrifice quality for quantity. A number of practical steps have been forwarded by the WHO which includes restricting the marketing to children of food and drinks high in fats, sugar and salt, taxing sugary drinks, and providing better access to affordable, healthy food. Cities and towns need to make space for safe walking, cycling, and recreation, and schools need to help households teach children healthy habits from early on. Additionally, policy makers need to ensure that physical education is once again part of the offering for our students. Those of us especially with sedentary lifestyles must make a concerted effort to incorporate some amount of daily exercise in our schedule. In keeping with this year’s theme: everybody needs to act. However, if we choose not to eat healthy and engage some amount of daily physical activity then the consequences of obesity will destroy our lives. If you have been neglecting your weight, now is the time to act. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WorldObesityDay #poverty