The Romanian Society of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases has drawn attention to the importance of an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to obesity, emphasising the need to adapt healthcare systems to face the challenges generated by the condition.
March 4 is celebrated as World Obesity Day.
"Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diet and other risk factors have contributed to the alarming increase in the prevalence of this condition. Obesity is, first and foremost, a disease and must be treated as such. In addition to diabetes, obesity is associated with multiple other metabolic and cardiovascular complications, affecting quality of life and reducing life expectancy. Therefore, the prevention and management of this condition must be an essential objective both at the individual level and within the healthcare systems," Bogdan Timar, chairman of the Romanian Society of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases is quoted as saying in a press statement released on Tuesday.
According to him, promoting a healthy lifestyle, based on a balanced diet and physical activity, along with access to effective treatments, are essential steps to reduce the burden of this global epidemic.
According to the World Obesity Atlas 2025, if current trends continue, by 2030, half of the adult population globally will be overweight, and obesity will affect 22% of women and 17% of men. Moreover, estimates indicate that by 2035, one in four people will suffer from obesity, which means 1.9 billion people. A particularly alarming aspect is the accelerated increase in childhood obesity, which could double between 2020 and 2035.
According to the Romanian Society of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, obesity in Romania is constantly expanding, affecting a significant segment of the population: 39% of adults are obese, and about 70% are overweight.
"Obesity is a significant risk factor for many chronic non-communicable diseases, including diabetes," the specialists warn.
This year, the slogan of World Obesity Day is "Changing systems: Healthier Lives".
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