Swiss Pharmacy

THE STATISTICS: THE MOST WIDELY ACCEPTED STANDARD FOR JUDGING WEIGHT PROBLEMS

The most widely accepted standard for judging weight problems and obesity is the body mass index (BMI). Any adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is classified as overweight, and measures beyond that signify obesity. The BMI is used to compare levels of obesity worldwide. Researchers have found that excessive weight is a global problem that is on the rise, particularly in urban populations.

Financially, the costs related to obesity are phenomenal. For the year 1990, the overall U.S. expenditure for obesity-related illness and lost productivity from missed work days was conservatively estimated at $68.8 billion. Moreover, the weight-loss industry, which includes everything from diet programs to surgical intervention and medications, costs the dieting population millions more. Were these methods successful, they might save money in the long run as obesity-related health disorders declined. The unfortunate reality is that after following these programs, most dieters regain their lost weight plus some extra, which then poses an even greater hazard to their health.

To what can we attribute this epidemic? While genetic and biological factors may explain why some individuals succumb to obesity, the overriding factor is the present-day environment where high-calorie, high-fat foods predominate, along with exertion-saving technological advances and the concomitant greater levels of inactivity. This raises questions about the standard approach to obesity today, which emphasizes medical intervention. If obesity and its related disorders are diseases of diet and lifestyle rather than infection, wouldn't it be more logical to take a holistic approach in their treatment? The modern hospital may be a technological marvel, but it is more suited to the treatment of acute conditions and trauma than to the correction of obesity, high cholesterol, or even heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases.

Unless drastic changes are made in our society that influence the overall behavior of communities, the problem of obesity is expected to escalate further, a fact that should be a cause for alarm. Let's take a more in-depth look at why we should be concerned.

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