7 ways to tackle obesity
Ahead of World Obesity Day, University of Sydney experts offer their advice on how to address the global obesity crisis now, to avoid the consequences later.听
鈥楢ct now鈥� is the key message of this year鈥檚 on Wednesday 11 October 2017.
Here, seven University of Sydney researchers 鈥� among world leaders in tackling the global burden of obesity 鈥� offer their evidence-based advice on how to address this global issue to reduce future economic and human costs.
1. Build a modern obesity movement
鈥淣o simple solution or medical intervention will solve the global obesity crisis,鈥� says , Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre and from the .
鈥淲e need to build a modern obesity movement that addresses the complex web of interacting factors in which the individual sits at the nexus of a network of biological, social, societal and environmental forces that together impact their risk of disease.
鈥淎dvising people to eat less and move more, or hoping for a magic pill, simply won鈥檛 cut it.鈥�
It's time: tackle obesity now, rather than waiting to treat the co-morbidities later.
2. Act now to reduce costs later
President of the听听听says the annual medical costs of treating the consequences of obesity such as diabetes and heart disease is truly alarming.
鈥淐ontinual surveillance by World Obesity has shown how obesity prevalence has risen dramatically over the past 10 years.
鈥淲ith an estimated 177 million adults with severe obesity in need of treatment by 2025, it is clear that governments need to act now to reduce this burden on their national economies,鈥� the Director of the听听at the Charles Perkins Centre says.
3. Heed public support for government intervention
听from the听听at the Charles Perkins Centre recently surveyed Australian public support for government intervention on obesity. He says:
鈥淭he results indicate the majority of the Australian population 鈥� 92 percent of respondents 鈥� recognises obesity to be a serious public health problem, and almost 90 percent supports government regulation of our food environment. 70 percent of respondents agreed the government should regulate food and beverage advertising, with 79 percent supporting regulation restricting television advertising to children. Support for prohibiting food company sponsorship of children鈥檚 sport was 59 percent, and 55 percent for taxing sugar-sweetened beverages.
鈥淪upport for fiscal policies slightly increased if the revenue was to be used for health purposes 鈥� an outcome our policymakers should heed.
鈥淭hese results show the majority of the adult population supports definitive action on obesity. The government is out of step with public opinion about the necessity for government intervention.鈥�
Lose excess weight sooner rather than later.
4.听Lose excess weight sooner rather than later
听from the听听at the听听says early intervention is crucial.
鈥淚t鈥檚 possible we only have a limited window of opportunity in which to do something about excess weight. After this time, carrying excess weight may become 鈥榟ard wired鈥� into the parts of the brain that regulate body weight, and it may be almost impossible to make any changes at all. The sooner any small excess in body weight is addressed, the more likely it is that it can be reversed, thereby helping to prevent the progression to a much higher BMI and morbid obesity.鈥�
5.听Lose weight in small increments
鈥淲hile most diets were invented from the 1980s onwards, obesity rates have trebled since then. Yet every time a diet fails, it becomes harder and harder for the body to lose weight the next time we try,鈥� says听听from the听听at the听.
鈥�. The goal is to lose a small amount of weight and then to take a break, maintaining the new body weight for a period of time before losing another small amount. Rather than activating the body鈥檚 fight or flight response, the body is gently challenged to redefine its baseline body weight until the final weight-loss goal is achieved.鈥�
A new study will examine the dietry behaviours of young adults.
6.听Engage young adults with targeted health campaigns
听from the听听and听听is part of research collaboration to learn more about a typical day in a young adult鈥檚 life.
鈥淧revention is always better than cure, but we have somewhat forgotten younger adults in our health promotion efforts. We鈥檝e already developed and tested a听听with promising outcomes. Now the听听鈥� funded by the Australian Research Council and Cancer Council NSW 鈥� is recruiting 1,000 18-to-30-year-olds from diverse backgrounds across NSW to learn about the how, what, why and with whom of their dietary behaviours, in order to develop messages, build better programs and advocate for policies that protect against obesity.鈥�
7.听Understand the gut microbiome
听from the听听and听听believes the role of the gut microbiome could be crucial.
鈥淥besity is fairly fundamentally related to your long-term diet habits 鈥� but everybody responds to food differently.听. As we enter the era of personalised medicine we can expect microbiome profiles to be a part of our use of diets to control blood glucose, weight loss and even more.鈥�