In recent years, obesity seems to have become a contagious “superbug”, so that governments headache. World Health Organization data show that, at present, more than 1.4 billion adults aged 20 years and above are overweight, of which more than 200 million men and nearly 300 million women have reached obesity; 10 out of every 100 adults in the world are obese, and this number is continuing to grow at the rate of doubling every 5 years; the United States ranks first with 78 million obese people, closely followed by China and India, with obese populations of 46 million and 30 million respectively. 46 million and 30 million, respectively.
In 2010, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that obese adults in the United States have accounted for 35.7% of the total population, obesity causes about 100,000 to 400,000 deaths each year, consuming a total social cost of about $117 billion, accounting for 6% to 12% of health care spending, has become an urgent social problem.
With the improvement of living standards, the waistline of Chinese people has become thicker and thicker. Data show that from 1985 to 2012, the waist circumference of Chinese men rose by more than 15%; from 2002 to 2010, the proportion of overweight and obese Chinese adults rose from 25% to 38.5%, with urban residents accounting for the majority. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2015, more than half of China’s population will be overweight.
To make matters worse, the number of obese Chinese minors is growing rapidly. Professor Pan Hui, chief physician of the Department of Endocrinology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, found that the number of obese children and adolescents is increasing in clinical practice. It is known that the number of obese people under 18 years old in China has reached 120 million. What is worrying is that in life, a big belly is often regarded as a sign of “successful people” and people have little understanding of the dangers of obesity.
Closely related to cancer and chronic diseases
Each year, obesity causes 3.4 million direct and indirect deaths worldwide, becoming the second preventable risk factor for death after smoking. Some experts predict that obesity may become the number one killer of the 21st century, inviting people to a disease.
The latest study, published in The Lancet on Aug. 14, points out that British researchers tracked 5.24 million people aged 16 and older for seven and a half years and found 166,955 people had cancer, and that body mass index was statistically significantly correlated with all 17 types of cancer.
For example, for every 5kg/m2 increase in body mass index (meaning that a person of 160cm in height and 60kg in weight would gain about 8kg in weight), then the incidence of uterine, gallbladder, kidney, cervical, thyroid, and lymphoma cancers would increase significantly. Statistically speaking, for every 1kg/m2 increase in body mass index, there will be 3790 new tumor patients in the UK each year.
In this regard, Pan Hui analysis, the study shows that obesity and cancer are correlated, but not causally, as to whether obesity causes cancer, it is necessary to step up research.
Cardiovascular disease. The study found that 30 percent of people who exceeded the standard weight of 15 kg suffered from hypertension and most suffered from hyperlipidemia, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, with each 5 kg increase in body weight increasing the chance of coronary heart disease by 14% and the risk of stroke by 4%.
Diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in people with normal weight is only 0.7%, but the incidence of diabetes increases fourfold in moderately obese people and 30-fold in severely obese people.
Sleep apnea syndrome. Large amounts of fat accumulation can easily lead to snoring, edema and even breathing difficulties during sleep, and serious cases may develop sleep apnea syndrome.
Bone and joint disease. Excessive weight gain is an additional burden on bones and joints, which can easily lead to arthritis, muscle strain and other problems.
Fatty liver. The degree of visceral fat accumulation is directly proportional to body weight, and too much fat can cause damage to the liver and other organs, triggering fatty liver.
Depression. Obesity can trigger anxiety, fear, depression and other negative emotions. Obesity can increase the risk of depression in women by 30%.
Infertility. Obesity can lead to increased estrogen in women’s bodies, which can reach 2 to 5 times the normal weight of women, and then lead to menstrual disorders and other problems, affecting conception.
Bad lifestyle is the culprit
At present, the world through the body mass index to measure the degree of obesity of a person. The World Health Organization stipulates that the body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 is normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, more than 30 is obese.
There is a big difference between the physique of Easterners and Westerners. The obesity of Westerners is mostly general obesity, while the obesity of Chinese people is mostly centripetal obesity (fat deposition is centered on the heart and abdomen), and research shows that Chinese people do not need to be fat to the extent of Westerners to have many health problems. Therefore, China proposed a more suitable for the national obesity standards, namely, body mass index greater than or equal to 24 for overweight, greater than or equal to 28 for obese; male waist circumference greater than or equal to 85 cm, female waist circumference greater than or equal to 80 cm for waist obesity standards. ”Eat oil, move less” is the main reason for the high global obesity rate. Pan Hui pointed out that the main reason for the rapid increase of obese people in China is also this unhealthy lifestyle. “In recent years, the national diet is increasingly westernized, fast food, a large number of high oil and high fat diet, coupled with sedentary, less movement, resulting in the slow accumulation of fat in the body.”
In addition, Pan Hui said that China is currently in a period of rapid economic development, urban population living a fast-paced, stressful life, which also allows more and more people to join the obese team. U.S. studies show that stress can slow down the metabolic rate of women, leading to weight gain. In addition, many young people like to “eat a meal” to relieve stress, obesity will come.
In addition, genetic and environmental factors, metabolic and endocrine function changes, the number of fat cells and hypertrophy, drug obesity, intestinal problems, etc. are also factors that lead to obesity.
There are also some unexpected causes that can increase weight. For example, the bedroom light is too bright will interfere with the biological clock, so that people want to eat at night; drink a can of sugary drinks every day, the annual weight will increase by about 7 kg; love to watch TV children are more likely to gain weight, while watching and eating fat fastest; lack of sleep will change the body’s hormone secretion, resulting in weakness, so that people reduce activity, thus inducing obesity.
It’s never too late to lose weight
Obesity is a preventable disease, no time to start losing weight is not too late. A Brown University study found that obese people who lose as little as 20 pounds (about 9 kilograms) can have a long-term positive impact on their bodies, and even if they rebound, it can help maintain good health and improve sleep apnea, high blood pressure, bone and joint disease and other problems in the long term.
Pan Hui pointed out that the key to scientific weight loss is to change the bad lifestyle, should avoid high oil and high fat diet, more exercise. Family members can greatly improve the weight loss effect by urging each other.
Wang Jun, associate professor of exercise physiology department of Beijing Sports University, said that exercise is the best choice for weight loss, brisk walking, swimming, running and cycling are better ways. Generally speaking, the exercise time should last at least 30 minutes, and the effect of intermittent exercise is better in the medium to large intensity weight loss.
In addition, some details of life also help people lose weight. For example, when eating each mouth chew 15 to 20 times, chew slowly can not only help the gastrointestinal digestion, but also produce a sense of satiety, so that people can more easily feel full. You can also pay attention to the order of eating, soup before meals, followed by food, and then eat, try to fill your stomach with lower-calorie food, you will not consume too much high-calorie food.
Countries find ways to fight obesity
Obesity has become the world’s public enemy, governments have taken measures to fight obesity, worthy of our reference.
Japanese legislation stipulates that all employees must meet the waistline “occupational standards”, once the standard will face the risk of being dismissed. Since then, a vigorous campaign to slim waist throughout Japan. Osaka, Japan also launched a “weight loss apartment”, weight loss can reduce the rent.
To encourage states to control obesity, the U.S. ranked states in terms of obesity, with Mississippi being the “fattest” state in 2013 and Montana having the lowest obesity rate. In 2013, Mississippi was the “fattest” state and Montana had the lowest obesity rate. Promoting weight loss has also become a part of the work of colleges and universities, and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania requires students to take a fitness test at the beginning of the school year.
Many companies in Germany prevalent “health incentive program”, if employees successfully reduce weight will be paid bonuses. To control high-calorie diets, countries such as Denmark, Hungary and Finland have imposed taxes on high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt foods to raise prices and reduce consumption.
Finally, Pan Hui said that prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity is a top priority, and our education sector must strengthen intervention and take active measures.