World trends in the fight against obesity

World trends in the fight against obesity: global challenge and innovative solutions

I. Epidemiology of obesity: scale and risk factors

Obesity, defined as excessive accumulation of fat in the body, posing a threat to health, has acquired the nature of the global epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since 1975, the number of obese people has increased almost three times. In 2016, more than 650 million adults (over 18 years old) suffered from obesity. The problem of obesity goes beyond developed countries and affects all regions of the world, including countries with low and medium income. Obesity is a serious risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and psychological problems. No less alarming is an increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents, which poses a threat to the health of future generations.

1.1. Geographical distribution of obesity:

The prevalence of obesity varies depending on the region and the country. High obesity indicators are observed in North America, the Middle East and some European countries. In the United States of America, more than a third of the adult population suffers from obesity. In the countries of the Middle East, such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, one of the highest obesity in the world is observed. In Europe, there is a significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between countries: higher indicators in the countries of Eastern Europe and Great Britain than in the Mediterranean countries. In developing countries, there is a rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity, especially in urban areas, which is associated with changes in the lifestyle and nutrition.

1.2. Risk factors of obesity:

Obesity is a multifactor disease that occurs as a result of the complex interaction of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors.

• Genetic predisposition: Genetics plays a significant role in the predisposition to obesity. Some genes can affect metabolism, appetite, fat distribution in the body and other factors associated with weight. However, a genetic predisposition is not a determining factor, and the lifestyle plays a decisive role in the development of obesity.
• Inal meals: The key factor in the risk of obesity is the consumption of excess calories, especially from products with a high content of fat, sugar and processed products. An increase in the consumption of fast-food, carbonated drinks and other unhealthy foods helps to increase weight. Inadequate consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains also plays a role in the development of obesity.
• Low physical activity: A decrease in physical activity, associated with the sedentary lifestyle, the use of cars and computers, leads to a decrease in calories and helps to increase weight. Inadequate physical activity also negatively affects metabolism and increases the risk of other chronic diseases.
• Socio-economic factors: Socio-economic status can also affect the risk of obesity. In some countries, people with low socio-economic status more often suffer from obesity due to limited access to healthy foods, safe places for physical activity and information about a healthy lifestyle.
• Endocrine disorders: Some endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO), can help increase weight.
• Medicines: Some drugs, such as antidepressants, antipsychotic and corticosteroids, can cause weight gain as a side effect.
• Psychological factors: Psychological factors, such as stress, depression and anxiety, can lead to overeating and weight gain.
• Dream: The lack of sleep can violate the hormonal balance that regulates appetite and metabolism, which can lead to weight gain.

1.3. The consequences of obesity for health:

Obesity is a serious risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, including:

• Cardiovascular diseases: Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, such as coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure.
• Type 2 diabetes: Obesity is the main risk factor in type 2 diabetes. Excess weight worsens sensitivity to insulin, which leads to an increase in blood sugar.
• Some types of cancer: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing some types of cancer, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer and esophagus cancer.
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system: Obesity increases the load on the joints, which can lead to the development of osteoarthritis.
• Liver diseases: Obesity can lead to the development of non -alcoholic fatty liver (NAZBP), which can progress to cirrhosis of the liver and liver failure.
• Apnee in a dream: Obesity increases the risk of apnea in a dream, a state in which breathing is interrupted during sleep.
• Psychological problems: Obesity can lead to depression, anxiety and low self -esteem.
• Reduced fertility: Obesity can reduce fertility in both men and women.

II. Obesity strategies: world experience

The fight against obesity requires an integrated approach, including prevention, treatment and creating a favorable environment for a healthy lifestyle. World trends in the fight against obesity are aimed at changing behavioral factors, regulation of the food industry, creating a supporting environment and developing new treatment methods.

2.1. Changing behavioral factors:

A change in behavioral factors plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. This includes improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and a change in lifestyle.

• Healthy nutrition: Power improvement strategies include:
  • Educational campaigns: Improving the knowledge of the population about healthy diet using information campaigns, educational programs and consultations of nutritionists.
  • Food marking: The introduction of a clear and understandable marking of food products so that consumers can easily evaluate the content of calories, fats, sugar and salt. Some countries use color coding (for example, a traffic light system) to indicate the usefulness of products.
  • Limiting advertising of unhealthy foods: Limiting advertising of unhealthy foods, especially aimed at children.
  • Sweet drink taxation: The introduction of taxes on sweet drinks to reduce their consumption. Many countries, such as Mexico, Great Britain and France, introduced taxes on sweet drinks, which led to a decrease in their consumption.
  • Subsidizing healthy foods: Subsidizing healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to make them more affordable for the population.
  • School of food programs: Implementation of healthy food programs in schools to provide children with nutrient food and teach their proper nutrition.
  • Portage limitation: Limiting the size of portions in restaurants and cafes to help people control the amount of food consumed.
• Increase in physical activity: Strategies for increasing physical activity include:
  • Physical activity programs: Development and implementation of physical activity programs for various age groups and physical training levels.
  • Creating a favorable environment: The creation of a favorable environment for physical activity, such as the construction of pedestrian and bicycle paths, parks and sports grounds.
  • Propaganda of physical activity: Propaganda of physical activity with the help of information campaigns and events.
  • School programs of physical education: Strengthening physical education programs in schools.
  • Promotion of active transport: Encouragement of the use of active transport, such as walking and riding a bicycle, for traveling and studying.
• Life change change: Strategies for changing lifestyle include:
  • Psychological support: Providing psychological support to people trying to lose weight in order to help them cope with stress, depression and other psychological factors that can lead to overeating.
  • Support groups: Organization of support groups for people trying to lose weight so that they can share experience, receive support and motivation.
  • Weight management programs: Development and implementation of weight management programs that combine healthy nutrition, physical activity and a change in lifestyle.
  • Technologies: The use of technologies, such as mobile applications and online platforms, to monitor nutrition and physical activity, provide personalized recommendations and support.

2.2. Food industry regulation:

The regulation of the food industry plays an important role in the fight against obesity. This includes restricting the content of harmful substances in food products, regulating advertising of unhealthy foods and stimulating the production of healthy products.

• Limiting the content of harmful substances: Limiting the content of harmful substances, such as trans fats, sugar and salt, in food products. Many countries introduced restrictions on the maintenance of trans fats in food products, which led to a decrease in their consumption and improve the health of the population.
• Advertising of unhealthy foods: Regulation of advertising of unhealthy food, especially aimed at children. Some countries banned advertising of unhealthy food in children’s television programs and near schools.
• Stimulating the production of healthy products: Stimulating the production of healthy products, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, by providing subsidies and tax benefits.
• Requirements for the composition of products: The introduction of product composition requirements so that manufacturers use healthier ingredients and reduce the content of harmful substances.
• Voluntary agreements: The conclusion of voluntary agreements with the food industry on improving the composition of products and restricting advertising of unhealthy foods.

2.3. Creating a supporting environment:

The creation of a supporting environment plays an important role in the prevention of obesity. This includes the creation of affordable and safe places for physical activity, ensuring access to healthy foods and creating social norms that support a healthy lifestyle.

• Available and safe places for physical activity: Creating available and safe places for physical activity, such as parks, sports grounds, pedestrian and bicycle paths.
• Access to healthy foods: Ensuring access to healthy food, especially in areas with low socio-economic status. This may include the creation of farm markets, subsidizing healthy foods and improving transport accessibility to grocery stores.
• Social norms: Creating social norms that support a healthy lifestyle by promoting a healthy diet, physical activity and abandoning bad habits.
• City planning: Integration of the principles of a healthy lifestyle in urban planning to create cities favorable for physical activity and healthy nutrition. This may include the creation of pedestrian zones, bicycle paths and parks.
• Support at the workplace: Implementation of health programs at the workplace to support employees in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This may include providing access to fitness centers, organizing sporting events and providing food consultations.

2.4. Medical interventions:

Medical interventions play an important role in the treatment of obesity in people who cannot lose weight by changing the lifestyle. This includes drug therapy and bariatric surgery.

• Drug therapy: The use of drugs to suppress appetite or decrease in fat absorption. Some drugs approved for the treatment of obesity include eagleistat, lyrabulutide and semaglutide. Drug therapy should be used in combination with a change in lifestyle and under the supervision of a doctor.
• Bariatric surgery: Surgical intervention to reduce the size of the stomach or change the digestive tract. Bariatric surgery can be an effective method of treating obesity in people with severe obesity, who cannot lose weight with other methods. There are various types of bariatric surgery, such as hose gastroplasty, gastric shunting and bandaging of the stomach. Bariatric surgery requires careful selection of patients and subsequent observation.

2.5. Innovative approaches:

In addition to traditional strategies for the fight against obesity, innovative approaches aimed at a more effective solution to the problem are developed and introduced.

• Personalized medicine: Development of personalized obesity treatment programs based on genetic, metabolic and behavioral characteristics of the patient. The personalized approach allows you to take into account the individual characteristics of the patient and choose the most effective treatment methods.
• Intestinal microbia: The study of the role of intestinal microbioma in the development of obesity and the development of methods for its modification to improve metabolism and reduce weight. The intestinal microbia affects many aspects of health, including metabolism, immunity and appetite.
• Digital technologies: The use of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to develop more effective weight management programs and provide personalized recommendations. Digital technologies can be used to monitor nutrition and physical activity, data analysis and personalized feedback.
• Gene therapy: A study of the possibility of using genetic therapy for the treatment of obesity by affecting genes that regulate appetite and metabolism. Gene therapy is in the early stages of development, but may have a potential for the treatment of obesity in the future.
• Telemedicine: The use of telemedicine to provide consultations on nutrition and physical activity, as well as for monitoring patients with obesity at a distance. Telemedicine can improve the availability of medical care for people living in remote areas or having limited movement opportunities.

III. Problems and prospects:

The fight against obesity is a difficult task requiring coordinated efforts by governments, medical workers, the food industry and the population as a whole. There are significant problems that need to be solved to achieve success in the fight against obesity.

3.1. Problems in the fight against obesity:

• Insufficient awareness: Insufficient awareness of the population about the risks associated with obesity, and the methods of its prevention and treatment.
• Limited access to healthy foods: Limited access to healthy food, especially in areas with low socio-economic status.
• Insufficient physical activity: Insufficient physical activity due to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of safe places for physical activity.
• The influence of the food industry: The influence of the food industry that promotes unhealthy foods and drinks.
• Socio-economic inequalities: Socio-economic inequalities that affect access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity.
• Lack of resources: Lack of resources allocated for prevention and treatment of obesity.
• Stigmatization of obesity: Stygmatization of obesity, which can lead to discrimination and low self -esteem.
• The difficulty of changing behavioral factors: The complexity of changes in behavioral factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, which are formed from childhood.
• Lack of a single strategy: Lack of a single strategy for the fight against obesity at the global level.

3.2. Prospects in the fight against obesity:

• Increased awareness: Increased public awareness of risks associated with obesity, and methods of its prevention and treatment.
• Creating a favorable environment: Creating a favorable environment for a healthy lifestyle that provides access to healthy foods and safe places for physical activity.
• Food industry regulation: The regulation of the food industry to limit the content of harmful substances in food products and limit advertising of unhealthy foods.
• Medical interventions: Development and implementation of effective medical interventions for the treatment of obesity, such as drug therapy and bariatric surgery.
• Innovative approaches: Development and introduction of innovative approaches to obesity, such as personalized medicine, modification of the intestinal microbioma and the use of digital technologies.
• Intersectoral cooperation: Intersectoral cooperation between governments, medical workers, food industry and the population as a whole.
• Global strategy: Development and implementation of a global strategy for combating obesity, which takes into account the features of various regions and countries.
• Investments in research: Investments in research for a better understanding of the causes and mechanisms of obesity, as well as for the development of new methods of its prevention and treatment.
• The fight against stigmatization: The fight against the stigmatization of obesity and the creation of a supportive environment for people trying to lose weight.

The fight against obesity is a long -term task that requires constant efforts and innovative approaches. Only through coordinated actions can success in reducing the prevalence of obesity and improving the health of the population.