Obesity
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate. Both developed and developing countries are affected. In low-income countries, obesity is more common in middle-aged women, people of higher socioeconomic status and those living in urban communities. In more affluent countries, obesity is common not only in the middle-aged, but is also becoming increasingly prevalent among younger adults and children. Furthermore, it tends to be associated with lower socioeconomic status, especially in women, and the urban–rural differences are diminished or even reversed.
The health consequences of obesity are many and varied, ranging from an increased risk of premature death to several non-fatal but debilitating complaints that adversely impact quality of life. Obesity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, stroke and hypertension) and cancer, and in many industrialized countries it is associated with various psychosocial consequences. Abdominal obesity is a particular area of concern as it is associated with elevated risks to health in comparison to a more peripheral fat distribution. Obesity has very high costs for societies, as the resulting disabilities and diseases create huge burdens for families and health systems. The experience of developed countries clearly demonstrated that the cost of morbidity and mortality associated with increasing obesity and related NCDs would be overwhelming for developing countries.
To successfully prevent and reduce the rate of obesity in societies, a multisectoral approach is needed to identify and change the main obesogenic factors in the environment, which contribute to determine high fat-energy dense diets and sedentary lifestyles. Obesity prevention and control strategies will then be focused on increasing awareness of these factors among decision-makers, health professionals and the general public, and lead them to plan/implement interventions that will create more favourable environments for healthier diets and lifestyles.
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Fact sheets
News and press releases
18 March 2011
Governments vow to step up fight against lifestyle diseases
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12 July 2010
Getting back to food basics
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14 April 2010
Healthy food, healthy people, healthy islands
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30 July 2009
Obese people possible high risk of complications from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
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20 September 2005
Act now to address threat from noncommunicable diseases, WHO is urged
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Relevant publications and documents
Legislative Interventions to Prevent and Decrease Obesity in Pacific Island Countries (David Clarke and Tim McKenzie, Allen & Clarke, Policy and Regulatory Specialists Limited) Report prepared for WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
Obesity is a significant issue for Western Pacific nations. While awareness of the problem is widespread, responses to it vary, from extensive tax-funded health promotion programmes, to intermittent and occasional interventions. Nonetheless, the range of initiatives being tried across the region suggests that Western Pacific countries can use legislation to coordinate sustainable efforts aimed at improving the nutritional balance of their people’s diets. These efforts can feature a range of actions, including taxation, health promotion, increased physical activity and programmes in schools.
Using domestic law in the fight against obesity: An introductory guide for the Pacific
The rules and provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements place many challenges and demands upon those countries that are WTO members, or intend to become so and plan to develop regulatory approaches to support their National Plans of Action on Nutrition (NPAN). However, there are opportunities to work within the framework of the WTO Agreements to develop these regulatory approaches. In particular, it is because of the special needs confronting Pacific island countries and areas, and not despite these circumstances, that there is a strong potential for developing regulatory approaches within the context of the WTO Agreements in these countries.
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