March 4th has been established as World Obesity Day. The purpose of this day is to inform and raise public awareness of a disease that has nowadays dimensioned by epidemic.

What is obesity?

Obesity is a condition characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the body that can affect health. Obesity can lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it can affect bones and joints, and has also been linked to an increased risk of developing certain forms of cancer. People with obesity may also have respiratory problems, such as sleep apnea, and are often called upon to cope with social stigma.

How is the diagnosis being made?

The main way to estimate whether a person is overweight or obese is the calculation of the body mass index (Body Mass Index, BMI) based on body weight and height: BMI = weight (kg) / height ² (m²). For adults, people with BMI ≥ 25 are characterized as overweight and as obese people with BMI ≥ 30. The body mass index is a useful indicator for obesity assessment, but it does not always tell the truth, as it does not take into account gender, age, ethnicity. For example, a bodybuilding champion may have BMI> 30 due to increased muscle mass. Therefore additional parameters, such as waist circumference, should be appreciated for the diagnosis of obesity.

What are the main causes?

Increasing body weight is due to the positive energy balance of the body: if the energy we import into our body (with diet) is more than we consume, surplus energy is stored in the body as fat. So we understand that a diet rich in calories, fat, sugar and processed foods, combined with a sedentary life in front of screens, without enough physical activity, can lead to obesity. But it’s not so simple. Obesity is a highly complex disease, whose pathophysiology are involved in many factors: genetic predisposition, neuroendocrine paths, environmental and psycho-social factors, risk the risk of occurrence.

What percentage of the population has obesity?

According to the World Health Organization, about 1 billion people were obese in 2022, that is, 1 in 8 people. The World Federation of Obesity estimates that this number will almost double by 2035, reaching 1.9 billion, which means 1 in 4 people. And if we consider that in the last 30 years this number has almost tripled, we understand the alarming dimensions of the phenomenon. In Greece, according to the latest data announced by the Hellenic Statistical Authority, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are overweight, while almost 1 in 6 people are obese. And as worldwide, in our country, the frequency of obesity is estimated to increase gradually, reaching 2035 39% of adults in Greece to be obese.

What is the treatment?

The appropriate diet and physical activity, under the guidance of experts, form the basis for the treatment of any patient with obesity. And when hygienic intervention is not enough, there is a pharmaceutical treatment, as well as metabolic surgery, for patients who meet specific indications. In recent years, huge progress has been made in the field of obesity pharmaceutical treatment, with new drugs revolutionizing weight loss. So at the moment we have medicines at the disposal that, always in combination with nutrition and exercise, can be particularly effective. Caution, however, medication for obesity has specific indications and should be administered only after the recommendation of a specialized physician. And of course, like all medicines, it is likely to have side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to assess and monitor a specialist throughout the treatment.

In closing, I would also like to focus on the importance of prevention, which is for many the best treatment. The cornerstone and the prevention of obesity is nutrition and exercise in the prevention of obesity. So let this World Day be a reason to adopt all of us healthier habits in nutrition and physical activity.