Each year, the percentage of obese individuals worldwide rises. According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, from 1990 to 2022, the global obesity rate doubled in women and tripled in men.
The study results were commented on by Prof. Paweł Bogdański from the Department of Obesity Treatment, Metabolic Disorders, and Clinical Dietetics at Poznań Medical University. According to him, we are now dealing with an obesity pandemic. Around 159 million children and adolescents, as well as 879 million adults worldwide, are affected by this disease, and the numbers continue to rise. "It is a chronic disease prone to relapse" - he said at a press conference summarizing the findings of Life Harmony Pharm’s research. He emphasized:
Obesity is not the result of laziness, as many people believe. I don’t personally know a patient who wouldn’t want to get rid of this problem.
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It’s important to note that according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition, obesity is classified as a chronic disease. Significantly, it is not just an aesthetic issue but also has a profound impact on health, being a cause of numerous diseases, including diabetes.
There is no way for obesity to reverse on its own. Additionally, as Professor Bogdański mentioned during the conference, the disease unfortunately tends to recur. Excess weight is primarily due to an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle. Most of us don’t eat regularly, which leads to metabolic disruptions. This hinders effective calorie burning and causes digestive problems. We also frequently consume ready-made meals and unhealthy snacks, which are high in sugar and harmful trans fats.
The article was written by Natalia Kondratiuk-Świerubska, a journalist for Gazeta.pl.