World Obesity Day (WOD), conceptualised and driven by the World Obesity Federation (WOF), is a global health campaign observed annually on 4 March, to raise awareness about the complexity of obesity.
There are various biological, psycho-social and structural factors that contribute to an individual becoming overweight or obese. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA), a member of the WOF, is working with regional and global organisations to achieve a greater impact on obesity reduction in order to mobilise for action based on the WOD 2023 theme: “Changing perspectives: let us talk about obesity.”
The power of talking will be emphasised this year. Now more than ever we need to shift the conversation from me to us and apply a community strategy. Our goal is to change perspectives, correct misconceptions, end stigma and get everybody making the decision to shift from single views to shared strategies. When we all talk, debate and share, we can transform health outcomes for everybody.
The global statistics relating to obesity are concerning. 1.9 billion will be living with obesity in the year 2035. It is expected that there will be a 100% increase in childhood obesity between the years 2020 and 2035. By 2035, 1 in 4 of us will be expected to be living with obesity. Further to this, the estimated economic impact of overweight and obesity in the year 2035 is $4.32 trillion. In the South African context, an estimated 31% of men, 68% of women and 13.5% of children are classified as overweight or obese (Statistics SA, 2020).
Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body that can have adverse effects on health, as it affects adults and children equally. People living with obesity are at greater risk of other chronic diseases such as:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Certain cancers
People with obesity are constantly shamed and blamed for their disease. This is because many people – including doctors, policymakers and others – do not understand that obesity is a chronic disease. They see it as a simple lack of willpower, laziness or a refusal to “eat less and move more”.
But like all chronic diseases, the root causes of obesity run much deeper. The complex causes of obesity can be genetic, psychological, sociocultural, economic and environmental.
We live in an obesogenic environment where it’s so easy to become overweight that it is becoming the norm rather than the exception. What does this obesogenic environment look like? The population at large is constantly bombarded with unhealthy foods. We face this at supermarket tills, on our phones and on oversized billboards. In select cultures, being voluptuous is rewarded and you may be marginalised for eating healthy food.
Healthier food options are sometimes more expensive than junk food, hence consumed more often. You are constantly rushing and take-outs are easier than home-cooked meals. You sit in front of a desk or a steering wheel for hours every day. This sedentary way of life leads to poor health outcomes and slows down one’s metabolism often resulting in being overweight or obese.
Biological factors leading to obesity are often not well understood by the general public. We have no control over some of the biological factors that promote obesity.
We all have a role to play in supporting and advocating for people living with being overweight or obese. Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the foundation states that “Understanding the factors in one’s environment and the bio-psycho-social drivers of the root causes of obesity will help facilitate positive behaviour change for obesity reduction.”
“We encourage people to seek out opportunities to live healthier, increase activity levels and eat better. We will continue to work towards a healthier environment for all South Africans. Knowing that obesity is not entirely your fault can be empowering.”
The HSFSA Heart Mark endorsement programme is one such tool that makes it easier to purchase or make healthier food choices when faced with a variety of options at the supermarket. It helps consumers identify healthier products that contain less added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats and more fibre compared to other similar products. The foundation’s health promotion manager, Joanna Durugiah and nutrition team leader, Hayley Cimring encourages South Africans to consume food products that are recommended by the foundation as part of a healthy meal plan.
Professor Naidoo encourages members of the public to access information on the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa website and attend the webinar they have planned for WOD 2023.
“Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can fight the obesity epidemic.”
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) plays a leading role in the fight against preventable heart disease and stroke, with the aim of seeing fewer people in South Africa suffer premature deaths and disabilities. The HSFSA, established in 1980 is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation which relies on external funding to sustain the work it carries out.
The HSFSA aims to reduce the cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in South Africa and ultimately on the health care system of South Africa. Its mission is to empower people in South Africa to adopt healthy lifestyles, make healthy choices easier, seek appropriate care and encourage prevention.
For more information visit www.heartfoundation.co.za. You can also find the foundation on social media:
Facebook: HeartStrokeSA
Twitter: @SAHeartStroke
Instagram: @heartstrokesa_
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