Overweight of more than 56% of people over 18 years of age in the country

According to Fars news agency’s health department, Hossein Farshidi said at the 8th Obesity Prevention and Treatment Congress: Obesity is one of the most important factors affecting the increase in morbidity, increasing the financial burden on the health system and mortality.

Referring to the increase in the average age of the country’s population, he added: With the increase in life expectancy, we are witnessing an increase in the age of the population, but unfortunately, the ratio of young people to the total population of the country has decreased. If this young population is overweight and obese, a good future cannot be drawn. The implementation of the National Mobilization Plan for Healthy Eating and Symmetry with the holding of this congress should be taken as a good omen because this year’s slogan of the National Mobilization is a better life with an appropriate weight.

The Deputy Minister of Health emphasized the necessity of education and information in the field of obesity control and prevention in society and said: With social culture or obesity prevention education in society, we can move from the field of treatment to self-care.

Pointing to the necessity of changing false beliefs in society and education in the field of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, consumption of vegetables and healthy eating, movement and proper activity, he said: This education and culture building should start from children and schools. Weight gain in children should be taken seriously and we should start with education.

According to him, the 20th century was associated with population migration from villages to cities, and the 21st century was associated with new technologies and virtual space, which caused a decrease in activity and inactivity, and the Corona pandemic was also added to it, which increased the prevalence of obesity and overweight. .

The Deputy Minister of Health of the Ministry of Health added: 70% of deaths are related to non-communicable diseases, the most important of which are cardiovascular diseases, and obesity is one of the risk factors of these diseases.

Dr. Farshidi reminded: According to the opinion of associations and studies, more than 195 complications are associated with obesity, and it is impossible to mention a disease that is not related to obesity, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Kurds, which have a direct relationship with obesity and have a high mortality rate.

He said: obesity can be prevented by changing lifestyle. For example, with 15 minutes of daily physical activity, reducing energy consumption and calorie intake, cardiovascular events can be reduced.

Referring to the relationship between body mass index and life expectancy, he said: We all know that losing weight is a difficult process, but it is more important to maintain weight and prevent it from increasing again. Losing five to 10 percent of weight without side effects can bring health.

According to the Vebeda report, Dr. Farshidi emphasized the need to change the attitude of people in the society regarding the prevention and control of obesity and said: obesity is a serious issue and its importance should be conveyed to the society. Until the society’s attitude towards obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes does not change, many of the programs and actions we do will remain the same.

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