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Anti Obesity Day 2022

By Dr. Pradeep Chowbey in Bariatric Surgery / Metabolic

Nov 21 , 2022 | 2 min read

Would you pick a bottle of aerated sugary drink if you knew it had 7-10 spoons of sugar? Would you sleep late hours at odd times if you knew a disturbed sleep pattern is a major contributor to obesity? Would you still avoid walking if you knew a sedentary lifestyle doubles the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, among others?

Unfortunately, many of us fail to acknowledge the devastating impacts the above three answers have on our overall health. What we consume, our sleeping habits, and how physically active we are define our trajectory towards being overweight or healthy-weighing individuals. Obesity is a global burden, and India ranks third in the Global Obesity Index.

Being the root cause of many serious illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases, joint problems, infertility, and certain types of cancer, obesity is a significant risk factor for serious yet preventable complications. With Covid, we all have witnessed that obese individuals affected with Covid struggled with grave complications than their non-obese counterparts, owing to the changes' obesity triggers at multiple levels in our body.

Among all the evident illnesses, what’s mostly ignored is the psychological impact the disease brings with itself. It cracks confidence and dents self-esteem, forcing people to withdraw from socializing and ultimately land into depression.

Another disturbing statistic is the pace at which childhood obesity is increasing. And more than 80% of these obese children grow into obese adults. Now imagine the impending impact it will have on our country’s future. Obesity is no longer a disease of the rich, and it is highly prevalent in developing nations. Obesity is driven by a lot of factors, some of which are beyond one’s control, like genetic factors. However, our physical and social environments impact our ability to live a healthy lifestyle and expose us to unhealthy foods that are engineered to make us eat more. It’s a trap, and we all end up falling into it!

This Anti Obesity Day, celebrated on the 26th November 2022, let’s be more vigilant and aware so that we can begin that with a simple step-Know Your BMI and monitor it regularly. Mindful eating, being physically active, and ensuring appropriate sleep patterns are the three legs of the tripod of healthy weight management.

If you or someone you know is struggling with obesity, do not hesitate to consult an expert and adopt resolutions. Obesity is a disease, and just like any other disease, it is treatable with expert supervision.