A Solution to Combat Obesity?


Highlights:

  • Obesity rates have tripled since 1975, affecting over 1.9 billion adults globally

  • Childhood obesity is on the rise, increasing the risk of adult health issues

  • Culinary medicine uses high-quality, tailored diets as preventive and therapeutic tools

Obesity, a significant risk factor for numerous health conditions, continues to rise globally despite existing treatments like calorie restriction, bariatric surgery, and medications. The increased availability of calorie-dense foods and sedentary lifestyles contribute significantly to this trend (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
What Is Culinary Medicine and What Does It Do?

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Rising Tide of Obesity

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2016, over 1.9 billion adults were overweight, with 650 million classified as obese. The prevalence of obesity has tripled since 1975. In the United States, more than 40% of adults are obese, while in the United Kingdom, over a quarter of the population is affected.

Obesity poses severe health risks, including:

  • Increased mortality

  • High blood pressure

  • Dyslipidemia (high LDL, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides)

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Coronary heart disease

  • Stroke

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Sleep apnea

  • Various cancers

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Childhood Obesity

Alarmingly, childhood obesity is also on the rise. Since 1975, the number of children with obesity has increased tenfold. This trend is concerning as childhood obesity often leads to adult obesity and related health issues, such as fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

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Role of Food Marketing in Obesity

Food marketing significantly influences consumption through pricing, marketing communications, product quality, and eating environments. Lower food prices, effective advertising, and larger packaging sizes all contribute to increased food intake.

Culinary Medicine: A Potential Solution

Culinary medicine integrates the art of cooking with medical science to promote a healthy diet, prevent disease, and maintain well-being. This approach focuses on using high-quality, tailored diets as a preventive and therapeutic tool. The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains, has shown effectiveness in preventing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Ali believes culinary medicine could help combat obesity, though its success varies among individuals. Key to its effectiveness is making healthy food appealing and enjoyable.

One significant challenge is the higher cost of healthy foods. Policy changes to make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable are necessary. Culinary medicine could save healthcare costs by preventing chronic diseases linked to obesity. However, more education and training in nutrition for healthcare professionals are crucial.

Obesity is a global issue with severe health implications. The Lancet Commission on Obesity highlights the interconnectedness of obesity, malnutrition, and climate change, calling for comprehensive approaches to address these issues. Culinary medicine offers a promising strategy, but political will and policy changes are essential to make healthy food accessible and affordable for all. Without such efforts, obesity will remain a significant health risk.

Reference:

  1. What Is Culinary Medicine and What Does It Do? – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739343/)

Source-Medindia





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