November 17, 1998 – The World Health Organization has just published a voluminous report resulting from the work of the International Obesity Task Force. This report confirms that obesity has become a major public health problem, even more important than malnutrition and infectious diseases.
Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI = kg / m2) greater than 30. According to this report, the prevalence of obesity has increased, over the past decade, from 10% to 40% in the majority of European countries, with the exception of Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands. This epidemic cannot be the consequence of genetic mutations but rather reflects profound changes in society and in individual behavior.
The root causes of obesity are social and result from a toxic environment that promotes a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of a diet high in fat and energy. According to the report, obesity is such a difficult disease to treat that it is better not to put on excess weight than to strive to lose it.
The health consequences of obesity include an increased risk of premature death (due to coronary heart disease and some cancers), cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, non-insulin-dependent diabetes and some forms of cancer.
The WHO estimates that there are today between 5 and 10% of the adult world population which suffers from obesity, or approximately 250 million people. Obesity is spreading very quickly in countries like Brazil, where there is an increase in malnutrition and overconsumption in various categories of the population. More men than women become obese and this increase is more marked in the underprivileged classes of the population.
On the other hand, Dr. Richard Atkinson, of the University of Wisconsin, has demonstrated the presence of a human adenovirus (AD-36) in obese people. The percentage of obese patients with high levels of antibodies to this adenovirus ranged from 19% to 58% compared to only 4.3% in the non-obese control group. This adenovirus is very easily transmitted, however, that does not mean that it causes obesity. Obese people infected with AD-36 had very low levels of cholesterol and serum trigyclerides.
The WHO report suggests adopting universal preventive measures in addition to specific actions targeting high-risk groups. Among the possible measures, Dr Stephan Rössner, of the University of Huddinge, Sweden, suggests emphasizing a healthy lifestyle rather than weight control. Thus, stores should be located in the neighborhood and not in shopping centers where the car becomes essential, urban planning should provide for access to sidewalks and cycle paths, architects should make stairs visible rather than them. camouflage in emergency exits, etc.
HealthPassport.net
Source: Medical News, October 7, 1998
