Is it possible to anticipate the risk of obesity?
It is clear that, despite the recurrent recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization) and the goodwill of the voluntary sector, the fight against obesity seems, in advance, lost. Indeed, for decades now, ithas been progressing steadilyand concerns all industrialized countries, or not. In fact, the reduction of calories as well as the practice of sports activity if they allow to stabilize the overweight cannot, in any case, eradicate this scourge considered as a global epidemic.
According to a study published in the pages of the American Journal of Public Health(1) and carried out byKing College London, the probability for a person in a state of obesity to regain a correct BMI is 1/124 for women and 1/210 for men. These data are confirmed by a second study, published in the journalObesity Research, where it is shown that our BMI has increased by 2 points in recent years (you can also take the test of your Body Mass Index at this address:http://www.calculersonimc.fr/faites-le-test.html).
It is better to anticipate obesity than to cure it
The American Journal of Public Healthhas published the results of a first study. The latter, based on 278,982 people, lasted ten years. Using the health records of overweight subjects, the researchers calculated, apart from patients who had benefited from bariatric surgery, what was the probability, for the obese, to lose 5% of their weight and that it was that of regaining a healthy weight.
The results conclude that diets and body activity arenot effective enoughin the fight against extra pounds.
This was followed by a second study, this one published in the journalObesity Research. Scientists at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto have tracked the dietary data of more than 35,000 people for 35 years, focusing on changes over months in the relationship between physical activity, kilocalorie intake and obesity. As a result, apart from diets and bodily activity, other factors affect the weight of individuals by increasing BMI: endocrine disruptors, preservatives, sweeteners, professional activity.
Through these experiments, it is better to anticipate obesity than cureit because, it is clear that prevention is a much more profitable and effective strategy to fight obesity.
Once the latter is installed, the possibility of losing weight, whether with diets, young people or physical activity, is ridiculous.
Prevention
According to a report published in 2005, in terms of health policy(2)obesity is well planned to be addressed through prevention. However, in the 10 years since this text has been published, obesity has been on the rise. In France the reports of the Ministry of Health are plethora and in 2009, theWorld Societyeven stated that in terms of obesity, the Hexagon “was not doing so badly”(3).
Faced with a failure, after all, bitter, and despite this good information, is it not time to rethink preventiveStrategies?
Transmitting health messages is not an easy task, nutrition labeling, although a necessity, is not really the panacea for weight loss. The only sensible alternative seems to be targeted, effective and early action, right from school entry. Give children the good habit of eating properly with an awareness directly in the field, during lunches, then count on them to give parents all the useful information that they lack.
That the younger generations are educating the older ones is not so surprising in fact!
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.