Obesity Patients in adults are increasing significantly

More and more people are suffering from obesity
The IKK Südwest notes that more and more people suffer from morbid obesity, especially women in their mid-40s. This has been shown by an evaluation of the case numbers from the federal states of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. In children, you should take countermeasures early and set incentives to move, the Bad Kreuznach doctor recommends. med Johannes Oepen. He speaks of "effort joy".

The number of extremely overweight people in Germany is increasing. However, obesity is not recognized as a disease in this country. Experts are now calling for a national obesity action plan. (Image: MartesiaBezuidenhout / fotolia.com)

More and more adults are suffering from the nutritional and metabolic disease obesity, reports the IKK Südwest after an evaluation with insured their area of ​​distribution. Within six years, the number of cases of obesity in the three federal states increased unexpectedly sharply by 46% (2010: 150,107 // 2016: 220,299). Insured persons from the Saarland (+ 54%), followed by the Rhineland-Palatinate (+ 46%) and the Hessians (+ 42.5%), gained the most. Most women in their mid-40s suffer from this condition (63%). In men, the diagnosis is often made only at the end of 40 / early 50.
The situation has eased slightly for children: 6% of all cases listed at the IKK concern children under the age of 18, but between 2010 and 2016 there were about 2% fewer obesity diagnoses in the entire distribution area. This is particularly noticeable in Saarland, where the IKK notes a decline of 10% (Rhineland-Palatinate: - 7%, Hesse: - 3%). More than half of the children are eleven-year-old girls.

There is not one reason for overweight and obesity - the causes are usually a combination of genetic predisposition and unhealthy lifestyle. "Obese people often have a too high-fat and high-calorie diet and do not move enough," explains Marie-Louise Conen, health promotion expert at the IKK Südwest, "psychological factors such as stress or frustration also favor this disease". For Dr. med. med. Johannes Oepen is the missing movement of the sticking point: "The balance between diet and exercise is no longer true, today, inactivity is too often part of the lifestyle," warns the specialist in pediatric and adolescent medicine in Bad Kreuznach and Board of the Obesity Network Rhineland-Palatinate , Not to move or to move too little, is a vicious circle: "Obesity is a disease of inactivity. The more inactive I am, the more I feel activity rather than stressful. "That's why his clear recommendation to all parents is," Bring your kids effort, then you'll win a lot! "

obesity
Obesity (Latin adeps = fat) is characterized by the increase in body fat, which goes beyond the normal level and has pathological effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) speaks of obesity with a body mass index of over 30. The disease can cause life-threatening sequelae such as high blood pressure, calcification of the coronary heart disease (coronary heart disease), diabetes 2 or cancer.

Obesity has been recognized as a chronic disease since 1997 and is a rapidly growing health risk worldwide. To prevent overweight and obesity, the IKK recommends measures in the areas of nutrition, exercise and stress management. IKK insured persons can choose individual quality-tested courses from the prevention offers. Under the motto "Prevention is better than cure", insured persons of the IKK Südwest are allowed to use their annual prevention budget of 150 Euro for health courses or for health travel.