notícia

National Day Against Obesity

May 22, 2021

This day is celebrated on the penultimate Saturday of May, it aims to raise awareness of the population about the problem of obesity and associated diseases, as well as the implications of obesity on health.

This date also intends to promote the practice of physical exercise, in order to prevent the increase of obesity, especially in children and young people, as well as encourage them to adopt healthier eating habits.

Considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the “epidemic of the 21st century”, obesity is a chronic disease of excessive storage of body fat. Seen as one of the biggest public health problems in the world, obesity is the second preventable cause of death, right after smoking.

How do I know if I'm at risk of being obese?

Obesity can be assessed using the body mass index (BMI) value that allows obtaining the ratio between weight and height square, that is, it allows to know if the weight is suitable for height:

  • Low weight ≤ 18.5
  • Normal weight = 18.5 - 24.9
  • Overweight = 25
  • Pre-obesity = 25 - 29.9
  • Obesity = 30
    • Class 1 = 30 -34.9
    • Class 2 = 35 - 39.9
    • Class 3 = 40
More than half of the Portuguese population is overweight and of this half, 14% are cases of obesity.
  • 14% of adults is obese;
  • 1.4% of adults has morbid obesity;
  • 31% of Portuguese children and adolescents are overweight.
In Portugal, obesity was recognized as a chronic disease on March 25, 2004, this year being the first time this day was celebrated.

Diseases associated with obesity

The genetic profile, the socio-economic and cultural environment, education, the family and individual and psychological characteristics contribute, on a large scale, to the development of obesity. Socio-economic changes, decreased physical activity and excessive consumption of food and beverages have also contributed to the increase in this disease.

Obesity is associated with the development of other diseases such as:

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Type II diabetes
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Complications in the respiratory system
  • Osteo-articular diseases
  • Infertility
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Prostate cancer
What to do to not be obese / reduce obesity?

The main risk factors to combat are sedentary lifestyle and inadequate diet. So it is important to analyze your lifestyle and change it.

Obesity is a disease that attacks a large part of the world population, requiring greater attention from health professionals. The care of people with obesity can happen by expanding the dimensions of care, where joint action with Traditional Chinese Medicine brings beneficial effects in the treatment of obese people.

There are numerous methods and treatments for losing weight, however few are really effective at maintaining weight. The Chinese medicine slimming method helps to lose weight in a consistent and healthy way, at a rate that, statistically, is around 4 kg / month for women and about 6 kg / month for men.

However, the method is even more complete, as it takes into account the localized fat loss in the really affected areas.

Through an initial diagnosis, current health conditions and daily eating habits will be assessed. A nutritional protocol will be suggested, personalized and adapted to reality.

Obesity is a disease that can be treated with medical help.

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