Obesity, removing stigmas

In 11 years obesity It could affect more than 4 billion people, which would mean that 1 in 4 people will get this disease.

It is estimated that in 2035, 42% of adults in Panama have obesity and that the increase in the rate of this disease will affect 2.5% of the gross domestic product of the country, according to the publication of the World Obesity Federation.

In front of this panoramaa projection published by the World Obesity Federation in its World Obesity Atlas 2023, highlights that not only will there be a significant increase in the number of people affected by this suffersbut influence global economy It will be 4.32 billion dollars.

The above shows reality of what is happening in the world and what is thought to happen in the next 11 years, but also leaves the door open for the subject to be addressed in a deeper way.

Some of these conversations that cannot be postponed are about the stereotypes that exist around people who suffer from obesity, about a public health approach to it that is not just about weight control, and about the need to raise awareness about it. this is a disease caused by multiple causes,” noted Dr. Alejandro Salvatierra, Asofarma’s medical manager.

Have comprehensive conversation on this topic, will help us in the treatment of diseases that can increase mortality by 30 percent, he said.

What surrounds obesity?

Is a chronic, complex disease of excessive or abnormally accumulated body fatwhich causes health problems such as high blood pressure, Diabetes mellitusheart disease, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, liver disease, and even certain types of cancer.

Furthermore, it is the result of an array hereditary factorsphysiological and environmental, or related to a medical cause.

Those familiar with the subject pointed out that obesity is not a lack of will or the fault of those who suffer from it, but is determined by forces beyond the individual’s control.

The narrative that a person is obese because of a lack of discipline needs to be changed, Salvatierra said via email.

Delete these stigmasas well as an approach based on obesity loss and control, will help us in our further work preventionin detection from disease and treatment suitable for each individual.

Once the doctor and patient have established these first steps, realistic weight control goals, such as a plan, can be determined healthy diet it is recommended, which physical activity you should practice, which behavioral habits you should change in order to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and which innovative treatments will help you in this.

In that sense, knowing what the stage is an individual is a clue determine the treatment alternatives that the specialist doctor may recommend and the goals that are expected to be achieved.