Obesity Prevention is the Key to a Nation’s Health

Abstract

The overweight and obesity is increasing problem for the health care system and for the health of the general population. The number of overweight people with varying degrees of obesity is growing in most countries around the world each year, a third of the world’s population suffers from this condition. According to scientists, lack of sleep, stress, use of certain pharmacological drugs can lead to obesity. The causes and factors of weight gain are varied, not only in personal life, such as eating habits and physical activity, but also include factors that can not be controlled, such as environmental factors, socio-economic factors, genetic factors and more. Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and some cancers. Obesity prevention should be one of the top priorities for the health care system. Preventive measures aimed to prevent the development of overweight and obesity have three levels of intervention: primary, secondary and tertiary. The purpose of the primary prevention is to minimize weight gain and prevent the development of overweight or obesity. Secondary prevention aimes to reduce the impact of the existing disease. Tertiary prevention concentraits on reduction of the complications that have developed as a result of the disease. To prevent overweight and obesity, doctors advise to limit the caloric content of diet by reducing the consumption of fats and sugars; increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains and nuts; perform regular exercise. Regular weighing by health professionals can help identify patterns and factors that contribute to weight gain. The success of obesity therapy depends on the patient’s trust to his doctor and the knowledge of the clinician in this area.