World Obesity Day 2023 History, Importance, Reasons, Prevention, Quotes and Status

World Obesity Day is being celebrated around the world on March 4. The main purpose of World Obesity Day celebration is to promote practical solutions to end the obesity crisis that is happening worldwide. The World Obesity Federation, officially affiliated with the World Health Organization, is the organizer of the celebration.

Obesity is a disease, which increases health risks by using excess body fat. Obesity is a public health problem today. Many doctors say that obesity lowers a person’s immune system. Obesity also predisposes patients to diabetes and heart disease. As a result, a type of protein called cytokine is released more in their body. Unhealthy routine from irregular life. Obesity is increasing worldwide due to various reasons.

This problem is increasing among everyone from children to the elderly. A whole day is kept creating awareness about such a disease worldwide. Today, March 4 is World Obesity Day. Not only to create awareness but how to get rid of obesity. Trying to find that answer today.

History of World Obesity Day

World Obesity Day is not very old. Since 2015, the day has been promoted by a voluntary organization working on obesity. They worked together with the World Health Organization and the Lancet Commission to raise awareness. Then in 2017, a special day is set to raise global awareness about obesity. Each year a theme is made on this day.

A non-profit organization celebrates World Obesity Day on March 4 every year in collaboration with the World Health Organization or WHO. Its name is World Obesity Federation. This year also they are concerned about abnormal weight gain and are trying to make the world aware as much as possible. Why not, recent statistics show that obesity has almost tripled worldwide since 1975. At least one in five children and adults is also known to be obese.

Eight in 10 (80 percent) of US adults are at risk of obesity. European countries are not far behind. 70 percent of the adult population in Germany and 60 percent in England are at risk of being overweight. Lancet warns that the rate at which obesity is increasing in the world will see the cost of treating obesity-related illnesses exceed £920 billion worldwide by 2025.

The study’s lead researchers and Imperial College London Professor Majid Ezzati of London says that although the rate of childhood obesity seems to be under control in high-income European countries, including the United Kingdom, it has increased alarmingly in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization, the problem of obesity in the world has increased at least three times in the last five decades. Experts say not only physical problems, but also mental fatigue are caused by obesity.

Importance of World Obesity Day

Obesity is now common. Not only physically, but due to obesity, sufferers have to go through various adversities mentally. Not only physical fatigue, but the roots of the problem go deeper. Hence proper steps should be taken to prevent obesity from the beginning. It is a very complex physical condition. If the body weight increases at an uncontrolled rate or excess fat accumulate in the body, the problem of obesity can occur.

Obesity can be caused by daily lifestyle, environmental factors, and diet. Obesity can also be genetic. Rates of obesity in children and adolescents have increased tenfold in the last four decades. That means that twelve million and four million boys and girls are now overweight around the world. The famous research institute Lancet has come to this conclusion by analyzing obesity trends in more than two hundred countries.

It shows that one in ten people between the ages of 5 and 19 in the UK is abnormally obese. These obese children grow up to become obese adults and obesity puts them at serious health risk, experts say. Researchers believe that the availability of cheap and fattening foods and the widespread promotion of these foods are to blame. Rates have been seen to balloon. Polynesia and Micronesia have the highest obesity rates.

Almost half of the young people in these countries are either obese or overweight. Researchers are seeing that the word ‘obes’ will soon replace the word ‘malnutrition’. Since 2000, the number of undernourished children has been decreasing worldwide. In 2016, the number of undernourished people was 192 million. The number is certainly much higher than that of obese children and adolescents.

But the day may not be far off when the number of obese people will increase. Countries in East Asia, South America, and the Caribbean have seen obesity replace malnutrition within a few decades. So, awareness is needed. If we are not aware now we will face a difficult situation in the future. World Obesity Day is observed every year to raise awareness about obesity. On World Obesity Day people are made aware to prevent obesity and maintain health.

How to celebrate World Obesity Day?

Obesity, overweight, or obesity is a physical condition that causes various diseases due to the accumulation of excess fat in the body. It shortens the life expectancy of diseased people. Nowadays obesity has become a threat to public health in developed countries. More than 50 million young people in the world are now affected by this problem. A large proportion of children and youth, especially from wealthy families, are already obese.

According to the World Health Organization, obesity rates in the world have nearly tripled since 1975. This United Nations agency estimates that in 2016, more than 190 million people in the world were overweight, of which 650 million people were obese. From this number, it can be understood why people in various fields have started using the term ‘obesity epidemic’.

The disease kills at least three million people every year, according to the World Health Organization. Scientists and policymakers warn that the way obesity is being tackled is flawed and prejudiced. But what is true and what is false in this fight against obesity?

However, according to a report published last September by the British Psychological Society, obesity is not a matter of choice. The report states, “Physical and psychological factors combine with environmental and social influences to make people overweight or obese.”  Awareness.  And to raise awareness, it is celebrated every year on March 4th. Let’s find out what activities you can do on World Obesity Day-

Attend on event

On World Obesity Day, various health organizations organize various awareness camps to prevent obesity. Where awareness advice is given on how to stay physically fit and reduce obesity. Various public health organizations such as the World Obesity Federation conduct various studies on obesity and present the findings to the public.

Obesity is a serious problem today. The most effective way to get rid of this problem is to increase awareness and change the daily routine. By changing food habits, we can get rid of obesity. So, we can benefit if we take effective steps as per the suggestions of all these organizations. All these organizations organize various seminar events on World Obesity Day. Attend these seminars and events, take advice from them, and take actionable steps.

Follow diet

Prevention is better than a cure for any disease. Nowadays obesity is like a disease because you can get various diseases from obesity. Due to obesity, the immune system of the body decreases. Nowadays, everyone from children to the elderly is suffering from obesity. So, it is necessary to be aware of yourself to get rid of this disease. If you feel your everyday clothes are tight. But measure your weight without delay.

If you see that you have gained weight, then definitely prepare to go to the gym. Physical exercise helps us reduce obesity. And keeps our body fit. Even going to the gym will give you a daily diet chart.  By following the diet charts, you will develop a healthy eating habit. You can also consult a doctor.  You can keep your weight under control by taking steps as advised by your doctor.

You may read World Health Day 2023 History, Significance, Messages/Wishes, Quotes and Status

Reasons for increasing our obesity

The United States is one of the countries most affected by the obesity epidemic. American health officials estimate that more than 36 percent of the nation’s population is now obese. The American Medical Association has been considering obesity as a disease since 2013. However, even in 2018, a survey by medical news portal Medscape showed that 36 percent of doctors and 46 percent of nurses in the country do not consider it a disease.

80 percent of doctors answered that the main reason behind obesity is a lifestyle. Since the 1990s, scientists have been thinking that obesity has a genetic link. Last July, a group of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology discovered that people with a family history of obesity have a higher risk of passing it on to their offspring.

Which is seen more in recent decades. By comparing weight with height, it is easy to understand whether our weight is correct and healthy. The team studied one hundred and nineteen thousand people in Norway, who regularly measured their weight with their height. There it was seen that their weight increased with time in keeping with the height.

But due to genetic reasons, some people are overweight. Maria Brandqvist, a researcher in the group, said, “Currently, a 35-year-old is about seven kilograms heavier than an average-height Norwegian due to genetic predisposition, which is not seen in others.” Can be obese. Today on World Obesity Day, let’s find out which aspects of our daily habits are increasing our obesity-

  • Family lifestyle: the prevalence of obesity depends a lot on the lifestyle of the family. Eating habits run in families. Eating fatty fast food (burgers, pizza, etc.), not eating fruits, vegetables, and unrefined carbohydrates (red rice), drinking alcoholic beverages; appetizers before eating at expensive restaurants, and fatty and sugary desserts after meals.
  • Emotions: depression, hopelessness, anger, boredom-induced irritability, low self-esteem, or other reasons for overeating can lead to obesity.
  • Workplace: In the case of employees, sitting and working and eating fast food or such food under the pressure of colleagues.  After work, return home by car instead of walking or cycling.
  • Trauma and traumatic events, such as childhood physical or emotional abuse. The pain of losing a parent, or marital or family problems, etc. provokes excesses.
  • Rest: sitting at home watching remote-controlled cable tv, browsing the internet, or playing computer games during rest can lead to obesity due to lack of physical activity.
  • Gender Differences: On average, men have more muscles than women. Because muscle uses more calories than other tissues (even at rest), men use more calories than women. For this reason, even if men and women eat the same amount, the possibility of fat accumulation in women’s bodies is higher.
  • Pregnancy: In most cases, women gain 4-6 pounds each time they get pregnant.
  • Insomnia: If you sleep less than 6 hours at night, hormonal changes occur in the body, hunger increases, and as a result of consuming more food, obesity occurs.
  • Lack of education: Lack of awareness about good health, lack of knowledge about a balanced diet, lack of knowledge about the harmful effects of obesity, etc. causes obesity.
  • Disease: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can cause obesity in women. Apart from that, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism (Hyperthyroidism) can cause obesity.
  • Medications: Certain medications can increase the likelihood of obesity, such as corticosteroids, antidepressants, birth control pills, etc.  Moreover, insulin and some anti-diabetic drugs also cause obesity.

On World Obesity Day, let’s find out what steps you can take to lose weight.

The first step to weight loss is to make some lifestyle changes. These include overall life discipline, positive changes in diet, and regular physical activity. You should never be in too much of a hurry to lose weight. Because if you lose weight in a hurry and gain weight again after a few days, it will cause more damage than before, as a result of rapid weight loss, there will be an imbalance in the body’s metabolism.

Include more low-calorie foods in your regular diet. Such foods are vegetables, raw sour fruits, etc. Those who have already become obese, should replace rice, bread, fish, meat, etc. with vegetables first. The amount of food that you used to consume throughout the day, you can still do that amount, if high-calorie food is reduced in the diet.

Eat sugary foods as little as possible. If drinking tea, do not add more than one spoonful of sugar. Delicious and tempting foods should almost always be avoided, egg, polao, many burgers, pizza many other fast-food, etc. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.  Drink 1 to 2 glasses of water before every meal.

It will permanently fill your stomach. Avoid watching TV, reading the newspaper, or chatting with friends and family during meals. Drink whole milk. Avoid high-calorie foods and eat low-calorie foods. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.

If 30 minutes in a row is not possible, do it two or three times.  Start with something that fits your lifestyle. Walking is best.  Alternatively, consider swimming, cycling, or playing badminton or tennis for 20 to 30 minutes. Try to be regular in physical labor. Try to do your work. Practice gardening, cleaning the car or house, washing clothes, or other chores. Make it a habit to walk to work and try to walk instead of using the office or home elevator.

World Obesity Day Quotes

A 2011 Harvard University study found that ‘calories are not just calories’ and that certain foods can lead to long-term weight gain. Researchers studied 120,000 healthy men and women over four years up to 20 years of age. Participants in the study gained an average of 1.52kg every four years and 7.6kg over the entire 20 years.

Processed foods, refined grains, fat, and sugar played a major role in weight gain.  A pound of weight is gained every four years just from eating French fries. On the other hand, eating more vegetables resulted in a weight loss of 0.09 kg. The study said, ‘Low-calorie diet strategies work best when certain foods and drinks are consumed in small (or large) amounts.’ Let’s take a look at some quotes of World Obesity Day on obesity and food habits-

  • “Obesity is a problem that nearly every nation in the world is facing, but there is much that we can do to fix it.” – Richard Attias
  • “The way to deal with the devil of obesity and diabetes is one day at a time.” – Stephen Furst
  • “The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk.” – Tom Vilsack
  • “If we don`t somehow stem the tide of childhood obesity, we`re going to have a huge problem.” – Lance Armstrong
  • “Obesity affects every aspect of a people`s lives, from health to relationships.” – Jane Velez-Mitchell

World Obesity Day Status

Of course, obesity rates are much higher in developed countries, but looking at the world obesity charts would surprise many. The most affected in terms of the prevalence of obesity is the Pacific island of American Samoa, where 75 percent of the residents are estimated to be obese. The population of these islands is indeed much smaller.

But in developing countries with large populations—such as Egypt and Turkey—32 percent of people suffer from obesity (2016 World Health Organization data. People need to be educated to reduce obesity. Let’s make people aware by sharing important statuses today on World Obesity Day.  To make you aware, some statuses are given below on World Obesity Day for your convenience-

  • Stress, unhealthy diet, and fast food every day. All in all, the danger to the body is increasing.  That danger is called obesity. Let’s take action to control obesity on World Obesity Day.
  • Many diseases are caused by obesity. March 4 has been chosen to create awareness about this.  Happy World Obesity Day.
  • How serious obesity has become can be understood only by looking at the data from the World Health Organization. According to experts, the problem of obesity in the world has increased at least three times in the last five decades. Let’s be aware of ourselves and others on World Obesity Day.

FAQ about World Obesity Day

What is the date of World Obesity Day?

4 March World Obesity Day. Source-Wikipedia

Who created World Obesity Day?

The World Obesity Federation

Health is the greatest wealth. Let us develop a controlled diet. Happy World Obesity Day.