Obesity The One Health Issue In India

 

Across the globe, March 4th is observed as World Obesity Day. The occasion is aimed at increasing the awareness of obesity, encouraging advocacy, improving policies, and sharing experiences. Its goal is to encourage people to adopt practical solutions that will enable them to maintain optimum weight and reverse the obesity crisis.

What is Obesity ?

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may have a negative effect on health. 

There is a concrete way to define obesity. It can be identified by calculating an individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is an individual’s weight (kg) divided by his/her height in square meters. A BMI of 30 or higher is what defines a person as obese. The range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher is what defines a person as obese.

India's Statistics On Obesity

Obesity: A Threat 

Obesity is an artificial issue, and it is time to put our thinking caps on and make healthy lifestyle choices to live a disease-free life. Take those inventive food advertisements with a grain of salt—junk fast food. Get your feet moving. Your rewards will reach in the form of good health, which is genuinely the most incredible wealth!

Another study published in The Lancet on the health consequences of obesity found that "by 2030, the non-communicable disease will account for nearly 70% of all global deaths, with developing countries like India accounting for 80% of these deaths."

According to a survey, nearly one in every five men in India is overweight. The proportion of overweight women is 20.7%, only 2% lower than underweight women.

Obesity is a complex issue because it can lead to at least 53 diseases. Insulin resistance in the body can go haywire, resulting in diabetes, a significant lifestyle disease. Obesity has been linked to changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglycerides, all of which can lead to life-threatening health problems. Obesity is also the leading cause of a wide range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Problems of being obese

People with obesity are in danger of developing serious health problems. It is the main cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• CVDs
• Fatty Liver diseases
• musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis
• Fatigue
• Anemia

Obesity is also responsible for social problems that include:

• Depression
• Bullying
• Isolation
• Suicidal tendencies in some case