Mentioning a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015 study, titled “Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years”, Malekzadeh who had also collaborated on the study explained that some 29 million Iranians are suffering overweight and obesity.

Out of 372,000 deaths occurred in 1990 some 21,500, nearly 6 percent of the deaths, were weight-related while out of 385,000 deaths in 2015 some 50,000, nearly 13 percent of the deaths, were attributed to overweight and obesity, Malekzadeh noted, IRNA reported Sunday.

In 1980 some 2 million people were obese while the number increased 5.5 times in 2015 as about 11 million people are suffering obesity, he said, adding, same goes for people who are overweight; the number jumped from 5 million to 8 million over the same time span.

This is “terrifying” and “extremely dangerous”, he highlighted.

The range of overweight and obesity prevalence in adult males and females increased from 39.2 percent in 1980 to 53.1 percent in 2015 and the range of overweight and obesity among under-18 boys and girls grew from 6.7 percent to 13.9 over the same period, he noted.

The range of overweight and obesity prevalence in females is increasing among Iranian women, he regretted, adding that some one million Iranian need to undergo weight loss surgeries.

Overweight and obesity worldwide

According to World Health Organization obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 worldwide. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese. 39 percent of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13 percent were obese. 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016. Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016, however, obesity is preventable.

What causes obesity and overweight?

Changes in dietary and physical activity patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with development and lack of supportive policies in sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing, distribution, marketing, and education.

Health consequences of overweight and obesity?

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2).

Raised BMI is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis – a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints) and some cancers (including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon).

Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood. But in addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, and early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and psychological effects.

Decreasing burden of NCDs in Iran

As overweight and obesity increase risks factor for noncommunicable diseases the health entities have joined hands to fight the causes and effects of such diseases globally.

In 2011, the heads of states gathered in New York and decided to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Following the gathering WHO came up with a program that covers four specific categories of NCDs comprising ischemic heart diseases, diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer and four risk factors which are common across these categories including unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

In line with WHO’s activities to combat NCDs in 2015 Iran established a committee called National Non-Communicable Disease Committee at the Ministry of Health headed by the Health Minister, Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi. There are also six subcommittees affiliated with this committee responsible for controlling cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, air pollution and inter-sectoral collaboration, traffic injuries, and a subcommittee for monitoring and evaluating whole action plan for the NCDs in Iran.

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As far as gender is concerned, women outnumber men in this regard, said the official, adding, “This is directly related to lack of exercise and physical activity.”

Underweight and the overweight are both considered as malnutrition, he highlighted.

Food insecurity 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Raeisi added that seven provinces, namely Sistan-Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Bushehr, Ardebil and South Khorasan, are facing food insecurity in terms of nutritional value of the foods, social and economic access to nutritious food, healthy food production and other food-related environmental factors.

“3.5 percent of children under age 5 living in these provinces are suffering from malnutrition,” he regretted.

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Some 20 years ago children were mainly suffering from malnutrition, but currently the situation is reversed. Now, overweight and obesity are posing a threat not only to children under age five but to those under age two, IRNA quoted Zahra Abdollahi as saying.

In 1995, about 20 percent of the children under age five had short stature caused by nutritional deficiency while currently only 6.8 percent of the children under age 5 have short stature due to malnutrition, Abdollahi highlighted.

She went on to explain that 17 percent of the Iranian children under age five were underweight in the same year but the number has now decreased to 4 percent.

On the other hand, she said, in a study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2012 on average 20 percent of the under-two year olds are suffering overweight and obesity nationwide. However, the number grows in northern provinces to 30 percent, she regretted.

In another study conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health and universities of medical sciences 20 to 25 percent of the school children are also affected by overweight or obesity nationwide.

As per the study most school children aging 7 to 18 carry abdominal fat caused by consuming too much sweats, fizzy drinks, fruit juices, fast food, deep fried food, lack of movement and not eating healthy food such as fruits, and vegetables, she pointed out.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. The prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. Globally, in 2015 the number of overweight children under the age of five, is estimated to be over 42 million. Almost half of all overweight children under 5 lived in Asia and one quarter lived in Africa.

Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. Overweight and obesity, as well as their related diseases, are largely preventable. Prevention of childhood obesity therefore needs high priority.

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