Obesity and Diet

CURRENT RESEARCH ON OBESITY AND DIET

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic diseases. Dietary factors are the major modifiable factors through which many of the external forces promoting weight gain act.During the past 20 years, obesity among adults has risen significantly. Among youth, 18 per cent of children aged 6-11 years and 21 percent of teens aged 12–19 years are considered obese. Obesity results in adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, sterol, triglycerides and hypoglycaemic agent resistance. Risks of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular accident and type 2 diabetes increase with increasing body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height. Raised Body mass index also will increase the chance of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, mucous membrane, excretory organ and gall bladder. Mortality rates also increase with increasing body mass index.