Rising Obesity Is a Global Epidemic Causing Dysfunction & Death
Healthful Vitality | 12/07/2022 | Rising Obesity Is a Global Epidemic Causing Dysfunction & Death
Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate globally and more so in developed nations like the US and EU nations. It is now the most significant risk factor for various ailments. It appears that obesity is the primary driving force behind various non-communicable diseases.
Obesity numbers worldwide are fast rising
There are an estimated 2.3 billion overweight children and adults worldwide, and these numbers are fast rising. Thus, it is expected that by 2025, these numbers will increase to 2.5 billion.
The condition is even worse in developed nations like the US, where more than 70% are either overweight or obese. It means that less than one-third of individuals have normal body weight in the US. Most of these one-thirds of people are also at the borderline. It means that in the next few decades, there would be barely anyone left in the US with normal body weight.
The prevalence of obesity in developing nations like India or Nigeria is much lower, but trends are similar all over the world. It means that obesity has become increasingly prevalent even in developing countries.
All this means a significant risk of metabolic disorders in the developed world. Obesity increases the risk of almost every known ailment. It can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, dementia, increased risk of respiratory infections, and much more.
Obesity is a massive problem, a global epidemic
Obesity is such a massive problem that researchers have now started questioning whether it is merely a behavioral disorder or a disease. In fact, the US is among the first nations to classify obesity as a disease and not merely a risk factor for various health disorders. It is because researchers realize that by treating obesity, they can overcome many other health disorders.
Researchers are increasingly realizing that diabetes significantly increases the risk of almost every known ailment.
Just take the example of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity increases the risk of these disorders by multiple times. For example, the prevalence of heart disorders has been declining in the US for several decades. However, in the last decade or so, it has again started increasing due to obesity.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of arthritis, sexual dysfunction, kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gall bladder disease, pancreatitis, and even sleep disorders.
Here it is vital to understand that diabetes also increases the risk of diseases that people do not generally view as ailments associated with diabetes, like dementia, neurological disorders, and different cancers.
Diabetes significantly increases the risk of cancers of the endometrium, cervix, kidney, pancreas, stomach, bladder, stomach, and so on. It increases the risk of almost all types of cancers.
Obesity is problematic, causing dysfunction & death
What is worrisome is that obesity is causing changes in the brain, which influences food choices. In obese people, even gene expression changes, resulting in epigenetic changes. These epigenetic changes are then transmitted to the following generations, thus increasing their risk of diabetes and metabolic disorders significantly. It appears that controlling the global epidemic of obesity is one of the most significant ways of lowering the incidence of various non-infectious diseases. Quite like personal hygiene helps prevent the spread of infections.
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