Project
Why such a project?
What is Obesity?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries in the WHO European Region since the 1980s, and the number of those affected continues to rise at an alarming rate, particularly among children. Obesity is already responsible for 2-8% of health costs and 10-13% of deaths in different parts of the Region*.
Definition
«Obesity is an excess of body fat that frequently results in a significant impairment of health. Obesity results when the size or number of fat cells in a person’s body increases. A normal-sized person has between 30 and 35 billion fat cells. When a person gains weight, these fat cells first increase in size and later in number.»
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool to indicate nutritional status in adults. It is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2).
For example, an adult who weighs 70kg and whose height is 1.75m will have a BMI of 22.9. BMI = 70 (kg) / 1.752 (m2) = 22.9
For adults over 20 years old, BMI falls into one of the following categories:
| IMC | Nutritional Status |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 - 24.9 | Healthy weight |
| 25.0 - 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30.0 - 39.9 | Obese |
| Above 40 | Very obese |
Read the “10 things you need to know about Obesity”, by the World Health Organisation (www.euro.who.int/Document/NU...)
What are the consequences of Obesity?
2 types of consequences: mortality and morbidity
- Mortality: obesity is one of the first preventable causes of death. It can reduce life expectancy from 6-7 years to 20 years for a severe obesity.
- Morbidity: obesity can reach physic as well as mental and lead to chronicle diseases: cardio-vascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep-apnea, stroke, and certain types of cancer.
Why is Obesity a public matter?
Abstract from the WHO Regional Office in Europe website
Obesity and its related diseases are more prevalent among groups with low socioeconomic status. Those on lower incomes tend to consume more meat, saturated fat and sugar, and those on higher incomes, more fruit and vegetables. In addition, poorer population groups usually have less access to sport and fitness facilities, which limits the exercise they take.
The cost to society from inadequate food habits and lifestyle and obesity is enormous. Up to 6% of health costs in the WHO European Region are due to obesity in adults. In addition, there is an indirect cost due to the loss of lives, productivity and related income that is at least two times higher. In Spain, for example, the total cost attributable to obesity is estimated to be €2.5 billion per year. People suffering from obesity or from a chronic disease are also more likely to be absent from work due to ill-health. Finally, other social costs, such as underachievement in school and discrimination at work, must be taken into account.
*Source : WHO
