Overview:
Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges facing the world today and affecting millions of people. It is a life-changing disease, increases the risk of comorbidities and severity of COVID-19 infection.
On March 4th, we will be together to spread a simple message: «Everyone Needs to Act» to treat obesity. Together, we can give everyone the best chance to live a happier, healthier and longer life. The World Obesity Day promotes practical solutions to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight, undertake proper treatment, and reverse the obesity crisis.
The root causes of obesity are often a complex mixture of dietary, lifestyle, genetic, psychological, sociocultural, economic and environmental factors.
Facts:
- Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
- More than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, and over 650 million were obese in 2016.
- More than 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2013.
- Overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight.
- The fundamental cause of obesity is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
- Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices and protecting them from overweight and obese.
- Children's choices, diets, and physical activity habits are influenced by their surrounding environment.
- Obesity can be prevented by adopting a healthy diet.
- Regular physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight.
- Reversing the global obesity epidemic requires a multisectoral and multidisciplinary population approach that considers prevailing cultural features.
- Obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975 and have increased almost five times in children and adolescents, affecting people of all ages from all social groups in both developed and developing countries.
- Obesity is a major risk factors for various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and various forms of cancer.
Official Date:
Globally: March 4th, 2022
Locally: Sha’ban 1st, 1443H.
Theme:
«Everyone Needs to Act»
References:
World Obesity Day
World Health Organization