"Obesity will become the leading cause of mortality and disease in this century."
Dr. Gema Frühbeck, president-elect of the European Society for the Study of Obesity and specialist of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, has appeared before the European Commission on Public Health and Food Safety.
It is only half a century since obesity was introduced as a diagnostic factor in the International Classification of Diseases. Since then, its prevalence has increased to such an extent that "obesity will become the main cause of mortality and morbidity in this century and, as a consequence, many of the health benefits obtained in past decades will be threatened", predicts Dr. Gema Frühbeck, president-elect of the European Society for the Study of Obesity (EASO), specialist of the department of Endocrinology and Nutrition of the University of Navarra. Clínica Universidad de Navarra and director of the laboratory of research Metabolic of the University of Navarra. In addition, Dr. Frühbeck is a member of the CIBERobn (research center Biomedica en network) on the pathophysiology of obesity and nutrition.
The specialist appeared in Strasbourg before the European Parliamentary Committee on Public Health and Food Safety in order to explain the decisive impact of the diagnosis, treatment and, especially, prevention of obesity in our society. The appearance of the President of EASO coincided with the upcoming celebration of the European Obesity Day, which will take place on May 22nd.
During her speech, Dr. Frühbeck warned of the dangers of excess weight in favoring a high risk of suffering from various diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus subject 2, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and some types of cancer, as well as psychosocial alterations and other severe associated diseases "that have an impact on the reduction of life expectancy". he points out.
Significant benefits with 5 to 10% weight loss
According to Dr. Frühbeck, obesity is currently an underdiagnosed and undertreated health problem. "The main international bodies specializing in this field recommend losing 5-10% weight as the main strategy for treating obesity and its co-morbidities," she stresses.
In this line, the doctor highlights the numerous health benefits derived from intentional and sustained weight loss. Among others, quotation, "a decrease in insulin resistance, as well as in inflammatory markers, prothrombotic markers, lipids, uric acid and blood pressure. These improvements are observed even with moderate weight loss".
In conclusion, the president of EASO recommends acquiring "a healthy lifestyle based on a balanced per diem expenses and physical exercise, factors that should be taken into account".
The adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, together with an increase in physical activity, manages to "improve body composition, a factor associated with significant reductions in markers of abdominal obesity and an increase in musculoskeletal mass, which translates into a decrease in the risk of morbidity and mortality," he points out.
At final, in the specialist's opinion, the benefits of weight loss not only affect diseases related to excess weight or metabolic or mechanical problems, "but also affect factors related to a better, healthier quality of life, as well as feelings of social and emotional well-being".