Obesity epidemic: A global concern

Natural weight loss achieved through healthy eating programs.

According to the WHO there are two parallel epidemics affecting all countries in the world, regardless of economy, religion or politics, namely AIDS and Obesity.

Both diseases are diseases of lifestyle and result in considerable morbidity and mortality, with the resultant strain on health systems and developing economies, however both are preventable.

Obesity is a lifestyle disease, which leads to the following morbidity:
• Insulin resistance, or Metabolic syndrome, comprising hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes type 2,
• Various cancers e.g. breast, bowel, ovary
• Psychiatric morbidity
• Osteoarthritis

That obesity and the accompanying morbidities are on the increase indicates that the recommendations of the Typical western diet of 60-65% carbohydrate are a failure, as instead of halting CHD and diabetes, they are now of epidemic proportions. The high availability of refined sugar and saturated fats in the eating habits, together with decreased physical activity are the major causative factors of the epidemic.

Obesity has physical, psychological, and social consequences in adults and children. Children and adolescents are developing obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, that were once seen only in adults. Obese children are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance. One study of 5- to 17-year-olds found that 70% of obese children had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and 39% of obese children had at least two risk factors.

A strategy of action is to improve the health and wellness of the population by means of educating them to eat healthy, balanced meals, which will correct their metabolism and holistically create an environment in their body to function at an optimum level without the use of pills or shakes or chemical means. Through natural weight loss programs people are enabled to lose weight by harnessing the power of their metabolism – a simple change of lifestyle.