Obesity Is A Global Epidemic
Obesity is not just a problem for the USA, it is not just limited to other developed countries either - it is a problem that has spread throughout the globe, and is now recognised as an insidious killer and the major contributing cause of preventable diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease - according to Professor Paul Zimmet, chairman of the 10th International Congress on Obesity, Sydney, Australia.
Overweight/obesity affects more people on our planet than undernourishment. In other words, there are more fat people in the world than underfed people. Obesity is now the greatest contributor to chronic disease. Not even talking about childhood obesity.
What are the consequences of obesity/overweight?Here are the main ones:
- Coronary heart disease
- Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides)
- Gallbladder disease
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Osteoarthritis Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Several cancers
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes