Preventing obesity for healthy life

It needs attention and action of all concerned when the World Health Organisation (WHO) facts reveal that at least 2.8 million people are dying each year globally as a result of being overweight or obese.

Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2014 more than 1.9 billion (39%) adults of 18 years and above were overweight. Of these over 600 million (13%) were obese.

Most of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. 42 million children under age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2013.

Overweight and obesity: It is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that impairs health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight or height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. A person's weight in kilograms is divided by the square of his height in meters.

WHO defines: BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight and BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obesity.

Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity is now on the rise in low and middle income countries, particularly in urban settings.

Bangladesh perspective: A health survey conducted by icddr,b in seven divisional cities namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur reveals that 52% mothers of children of 5 to 18 years are overweight and of them 15% are obese. Of the children 14% are with overweight and of them 4% are obese.

The survey reveals that the rate is higher in Dhaka which is 57% for mothers and 22% for children and in Chittagong 64% for mothers and 13% for children. The rate of obese in families of well-off children is 27% as against 3% of the children of poor families.

High calorie intake and less physical work is the main reason for overweight and obese.

Overweight and obesity and related diseases are preventable. Healthy lifestyle, contamination-free safe and healthy diet, limiting energy intake from fats and sugars, consumption of fruits and vegetables, adequate intake of water and regular physical exercise are important factors to combat overweight and obesity.

Pollution-free clean environment and arrangement for good number of playground should be made available to combat overweight and obesity. Awareness is important to control overweight and obesity.

The writer is Executive Secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organisation of Bangladesh.