According to data released in March by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO ), more than half of Brazilians are overweight . Overweight is greater in women (59.8%) than in men (57.3%). As for obesity, the problem is the same: 25.2% of adult women in the country are obese against 17.5% of men. After all, what do I need to know about this problem? Check it out in our post!
What does obesity consist of?
Strictly speaking, obesity is nothing more than an imbalance between the amount of calories consumed and spent by a body . That is, at the same time as the intake of foods with high calorie levels increases, the number of people whose lifestyles prevent these calories from being burned increases.
Obesity is not all the same!
According to the magnitude of excess weight, according to the BMI, the patient’s degree of obesity can be classified as: mild obesity (class 1 – BMI 30 to 34.9 kg / m2), moderate (class 2 – BMI 35 at 39.9 kg / m2) and severe or morbid (class 3 – BMI ≥ 40 kg / m2). This classification is important when choosing the type of treatment, when it should be clinical or surgical.
Geographic distribution of obese people in the world
The highest rates of obesity are found in countries with the highest human development index on the planet, with emphasis on the United States. There, 40% of women and 35% of men are considered obese.
The link between obesity and fertility
According to research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), being overweight reduces a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant . The study linked obesity to an increase in the number of Americans under 25 with fertility problems.
What is the best way to prevent this disease?
Prevention against obesity involves raising awareness of the importance of physical activity and adequate nutrition. The sedentary lifestyle, meals with few vegetables and fruits, in addition to the excess of foods rich in fat and sugar, precipitate the increase in the number of obese people, in all age groups, including children.
