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Increased health risk Nearly every third person is too fat
More and more people are suffering from overweight and obesity. New figures show that about every third person worldwide is too fat. This has dramatic effects: Obese people are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
Every third person worldwide is too fat
According to OECD figures, more and more obese people are living in Germany. Every year around seven million patients are treated for obesity in Germany. Also in most other countries of the world the number of people who are too fat is increasing. Almost one in three people worldwide is overweight, according to a new study, which puts them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
According to a recent study, more than one in three people worldwide is too fat. This has dramatic consequences: Overweight people are at an increased risk for many diseases. (Image: Jürgen Fälchle / fotolia.com) Percentage of obese people has doubled
As reported by the research team in the New England Journal of Medicine, in 2015, approximately 2.2 billion people were overweight. Over 710 million of them were even obese.
The study found that the percentage of overweight people doubled between 1980 and 2015 in more than 70 countries.
And in the majority of other countries, the number of overweight had steadily increased. According to the authors of the study, this increase would have increased the diseases associated with being overweight.
Strong overweight endangers the health
Heavy obesity is a risk factor for numerous civilization diseases. Particularly noteworthy here are diseases of the blood vessels and the cardiovascular system such as hypertension, coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis).
In addition, obesity increases the risk of joint erosion (arthritis), diabetes, and various cancers, such as colon cancer.
"Those who do not pay attention to their weight gain exposes themselves to risks and risks," warned Drs. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in a statement.
"The half-hearted New Year's resolutions to reduce weight should be year-round commitments to reduce weight and prevent future weight gain," said the study co-author
Almost one in four is obese in Germany
First author Ashkan Afshin from IHME said: "Obesity is one of the most difficult health problems of the present and affects nearly every third person."
According to the study, obesity was the cause of four million deaths in 2015. That's around seven percent of the world's deaths this year. Two thirds of those affected died of cardiovascular diseases.
According to information, Egypt has the highest rate of obese adults among the 20 most populous countries in the world. 35 percent of the inhabitants are too fat there. In Bangladesh and Vietnam, the proportion of overweight people is one percent lowest.
According to OECD figures, obesity is particularly widespread in the US, Mexico, New Zealand and Hungary. In all four countries, more than 30 percent of the adult population is obese.
With a share of 23.6 percent (2012), Germany is also in a relatively high range. "Being an obese, who has a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. With a BMI of 25-30 one speaks of overweight ", explain the OECD.
Reduce weight with more exercise
In order to reduce the health risks, even a minimal weight reduction would have a clear positive effect.
A protein-rich diet can help to reduce weight.
Experts also recommend to distinguish the good from the bad carbohydrates while eating and to stimulate the metabolism by a high hydration and alkaline foods.
In addition to a healthy, low-calorie and low-fat diet, sports are also very helpful. This not only burns calories, but drives out the constant hunger, as British researchers reported. (Ad)