"In Navarra, approximately 11% of males and 15% of females suffer from obesity. These percentages are similar to the national average . In order to make the population aware of the problems caused by this ailment, which are sometimes underestimated, the 5th Day of the Obese Person was held". This was explained by Alfredo Martínez, Full Professor of Nutrition at the University of Navarra and member of the board board of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO).

The 5th Obese People's Day, organized by SEEDO, the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) and the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), aims to convey the message "For your weight, for your health".

According to Professor Martínez, president of the Spanish Nutrition Society, "we must make people aware that obesity is not only an aesthetic problem, but also constitutes a serious health problem, involving cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, diabetes, hypertension...".

"The specialists believe -continues the expert- that obesity must be attacked on two fronts: prevention through a healthy nutritional Education and the promotion of physical activity to avoid sedentary lifestyles. Currently, eating habits are not very healthy: we eat a lot of fat and do little sport, which makes status a cause for concern".

Am I obese?

The reference letter to know if a person suffers from obesity is the body mass index. "This parameter is calculated -explains the professor from the University of Navarra- by dividing a person's weight in kilos by their height squared. If the result is between 25 and 30, the person is overweight. If it exceeds 30, the person is obese".

Alfredo Martínez is also board member of high school Official Pharmacists of Navarra. This institution presented today in Madrid the study Plenufar II (Plan de Education Nutricional por el Farmacéutico): "We have investigated 120,000 children from all over Spain, 2,000 of them from Navarra, and we have found that their eating habits are not very conducive to the establishment of a healthy per diem expenses ".

"The most common mistakes made in the region are related to the low consumption of fish, because the bones are annoying for children. They also eat little fruit, with the exception of bananas and orange juice. This is linked to one of the main problems children have: peeling fruit. In addition, the frequent consumption of vegetables is low".