Obesity. Why is it so dangerous to health

Obesity is one of the main public health problems today due to its high social, personal and health costs, economic costs and its significant short-term impact on quality of life. It is a multifactorial disease, a consequence of complex interactions. between genetic, socioeconomic, sociodemographic, behavioral and cultural influences that result from the imbalance between caloric intake and energy consumption 

Furthermore, obesity is a fundamental risk factor for the development of various pathologies: type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, alterations in lipid metabolism, arterial hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and cancers .

Obesity alone is clearly related to higher mortality. It is estimated that for every 5-unit increase in body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg / m 2, overall mortality increases by 29%; vascular, 41%; and diabetes, up to 210%. Since an economic and health point of view, around 8.4% of health budgets are dedicated to the treatment of obesity-related diseases .

epidemiology

The prevalence of obesity has amplified dramatically in recent decades; A recent analysis of data from two hundred countries has increased the number of obese people from 105 to 650 million in the last forty years. If this trend continues, one fifth of the world's population would be obese by 2025. Obesity is estimated to cause nearly three million deaths worldwide today .

 

The prevalence of obesity among adults in our country is 20% of the plague. If we add overweight people (around 35%), obese people far exceed half the population. The prevalence of obesity in Spain has doubled in the last twenty years. In childhood and adolescence, the figures are no longer optimistic. According to the Aladdin study in boys and girls between the ages of six and nine, it is observed that 58.5% of schoolchildren have normal weight values, while 0.9% are thin and 40.6% are overweight . Of the latter, 23.3% are overweight and 17.3% are obese .

prevention

Several factors closely related to obesity were listed: age, marital status, low wealth index, urban residence, unhealthy eating habits, and easy access to regular food. There are many obesity prevention studies published in the medical literature that focus on the main identified risk factors. The commonalities for most are based on dietary interventions, as well as the promotion of physical activity.

diet

Treating or preventing obesity through dietary measures requires achieving a negative balance by reducing energy expenditure. One of the best-studied nutritional models is a Mediterranean-oriented diet that focuses on the intake of vegetables (fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, seeds), whole-grain products (cereals, bread, rice or pasta) and low-fat dairy . products. and fats, especially saturated fats. This diet has been recognized for its effectiveness in promoting safe long-term weight loss and reducing metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. Some studies in adults have shown that a better carbohydrate intake (higher fiber content and lower glycemic index) such as whole grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and yogurt is more likely to be associated with a thought.