World Obesity Day 2024: Here’s all you need to know about the date, history, and significance of World Obesity Day
World Obesity Day is observed annually with the aim of changing perspectives on obesity, correcting misconceptions, ending stigmas, and raising awareness on this medical condition, which is described as excess body weight in the form of fat. When this fat builds up, it can cause serious health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, severe arthritis, and even certain cancers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.
It is a public health crisis worldwide where one-third of all world populations suffer from it, and reportedly about 1 in 5 children and more than 1 in 3 adults struggle with it. Innumerable co-morbidities are associated with obesity like hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, gallstones, acidity, stroke, cancers, osteoporosis, infertility, and psychological trauma.
Obesity becomes serious as it associates with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, obese patients were reported with severe coronavirus illness and a poor outcome as compared to normal individuals.
Date: World Obesity Day is a unified day of action that takes place on March 4.
History: The day was convened by the World Obesity Federation in collaboration with its global members and was first observed in 2015 as an annual campaign with the goal of encouraging and supporting practical actions that will assist people in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, as well as reversing the global obesity crisis.
Significance: World Obesity Day is celebrated to promote practical solutions to assist people in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, receiving proper treatment, and reversing the obesity epidemic. Even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity, and seeing the reasons for obesity – healthy lifestyle, diet, and physical activity plays a magnificent role in one’s life.
In young children weight loss is not recommended, rather it is advised to maintain weight and grow in height. Obesity can be prevented by following a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
