Seven facts on obesity
1. Overweight and obesity are defined as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health”. A commonly used index to classify overweight and obesity in adults is Body mass index (BMI) – in metric system the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2).
BMI Classification
| Underweight | >18,5 |
| Normal weight | 18,5 - 24,9 |
| Overweight | 25 - 29,9 |
| Overweight 1 | 30 - 34,9 |
| Overweight 2 | 35 - 39,9 |
| Overweight 3 | ≥40 |
2. Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults (18 years and older) were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese.
39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese.
3. Most of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. Globally, 44% of diabetes, 23% of ischaemic heart disease and 7–41% of certain cancers are attributable to overweight and obesity.
4. For an individual, obesity is usually the result of an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
An increased consumption of highly calorific foods, without an equal increase in physical activity, leads to an unhealthy increase in weight. Decreased levels of physical activity will also result in an energy imbalance and lead to weight gain.
5. Children’s choices, diet and physical activity habits are influenced by their surrounding environment.
Social and economic development as well as policies in the areas of agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, education, food processing, distribution and marketing influence children’s dietary habits and preferences as well as their physical activity patterns.
6. Eating a healthy diet & regular physical activity helps to prevent obesity and maintain a healthy body.
7. Obesity today is preventable and curable.