PARIS, Mar. 4 (Benin News) –
More than a billion people worldwide are obese, including at least 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents and 39 million children, warns the World Health Organization (WHO), which calls for a accelerated action to curb obesity, because everything indicates that this figure “continues to increase”.
On World Obesity Day 2022, which takes place this Friday, she urges countries to do more to reverse this “predictable and preventable” health crisis, and warns that by 2025, an estimated 167 million people (adults and children) will be in poorer health because they are overweight or obese.
Obesity is a disease that affects most body systems. It affects the heart, liver, kidneys, joints and reproductive system. It leads to various non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, various forms of cancer, as well as mental health problems. People with obesity are also three times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.
So remember that the key to preventing obesity is to “act early”, ideally before you even conceive a baby. Good nutrition during pregnancy, followed by exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond, is best for all infants and young people children.
At the same time, “countries must work together to create a better food environment so that everyone can access and afford healthy food.” Effective measures include limiting the marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt to children, taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, and increasing access to affordable healthy foods.
In addition, cities should create spaces for safe walking, cycling and recreation, and schools should support households in instilling healthy habits in children from an early age.
The WHO is responding to the global obesity crisis on several fronts. This includes monitoring global trends and prevalence, developing a wide range of advice on the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity, and providing support and advice for the implementation works in the countries.
Following a request from Member States, the WHO Secretariat is developing an accelerated action plan to halt obesity, tackle the epidemic in the countries most affected and catalyze global action. The plan will be considered at the 76th World Health Assembly in May 2022.
