Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation - PubMed (original) (raw)
- PMID: 11234459
Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a WHO consultation
No authors listed. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000.
Abstract
Overweight and obesity represent a rapidly growing threat to the health of populations in an increasing number of countries. Indeed they are now so common that they are replacing more traditional problems such as undernutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant causes of ill-health. Obesity comorbidities include coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke, certain types of cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, dyslipidaemia, osteoarthritis and gout, and pulmonary diseases, including sleep apnoea. In addition, the obese suffer from social bias, prejudice and discrimination, on the part not only of the general public but also of health professionals, and this may make them reluctant to seek medical assistance. WHO therefore convened a Consultation on obesity to review current epidemiological information, contributing factors and associated consequences, and this report presents its conclusions and recommendations. In particular, the Consultation considered the system for classifying overweight and obesity based on the body mass index, and concluded that a coherent system is now available and should be adopted internationally. The Consultation also concluded that the fundamental causes of the obesity epidemic are sedentary lifestyles and high-fat energy-dense diets, both resulting from the profound changes taking place in society and the behavioural patterns of communities as a consequence of increased urbanization and industrialization and the disappearance of traditional lifestyles. A reduction in fat intake to around 20-25% of energy is necessary to minimize energy imbalance and weight gain in sedentary individuals. While there is strong evidence that certain genes have an influence on body mass and body fat, most do not qualify as necessary genes, i.e. genes that cause obesity whenever two copies of the defective allele are present; it is likely to be many years before the results of genetic research can be applied to the problem. Methods for the treatment of obesity are described, including dietary management, physical activity and exercise, and antiobesity drugs, with gastrointestinal surgery being reserved for extreme cases.
Similar articles
- Healthy lifestyles in Europe: prevention of obesity and type II diabetes by diet and physical activity.
Astrup A. Astrup A. Public Health Nutr. 2001 Apr;4(2B):499-515. doi: 10.1079/phn2001136. Public Health Nutr. 2001. PMID: 11683545 Review. - Obesity and diabetes epidemics: cancer repercussions.
Hjartåker A, Langseth H, Weiderpass E. Hjartåker A, et al. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;630:72-93. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-78818-0_6. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008. PMID: 18637486 Review. - The effect of weight management interventions that include a diet component on weight-related outcomes in pregnant and postpartum women: a systematic review protocol.
Spencer L, Rollo M, Hauck Y, MacDonald-Wicks L, Wood L, Hutchesson M, Giglia R, Smith R, Collins C. Spencer L, et al. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2015 Jan;13(1):88-98. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1812. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2015. PMID: 26447010 - Reducing obesity and related chronic disease risk in children and youth: a synthesis of evidence with 'best practice' recommendations.
Flynn MA, McNeil DA, Maloff B, Mutasingwa D, Wu M, Ford C, Tough SC. Flynn MA, et al. Obes Rev. 2006 Feb;7 Suppl 1:7-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00242.x. Obes Rev. 2006. PMID: 16371076 Review. - [Pharmacological therapy of obesity].
Pagotto U, Vanuzzo D, Vicennati V, Pasquali R. Pagotto U, et al. G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2008 Apr;9(4 Suppl 1):83S-93S. G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2008. PMID: 18773755 Italian.
Cited by
- Body mass index is a risk factor for postoperative morbidity after laparoscopic hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study.
Yang S, Ni H, Zhang A, Zhang J, Liang H, Li X, Qian J, Zang H, Ming Z. Yang S, et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2024 Oct 5;150(10):445. doi: 10.1007/s00432-024-05979-w. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2024. PMID: 39367929 Free PMC article. - Relationship between dietary sialic acid intake and serum HbA1c: a population-based study in Xiamen, China.
Zhou Z, Zhang W, Wang X, Sha W, Xu Z, Li H, Huang J. Zhou Z, et al. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 3;14(1):23026. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-74886-4. Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 39362939 Free PMC article. - Association of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet score with risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality among cancer survivors: NHANES 1999-2018.
Fu J, Yue X, Zou Y, Zhang J, Wang X, Zhang D. Fu J, et al. Front Oncol. 2024 Sep 18;14:1402217. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1402217. eCollection 2024. Front Oncol. 2024. PMID: 39359427 Free PMC article. - Effect of body mass index on ovarian reserve and ART outcomes in infertile women: a large retrospective study.
Li YL, Yan EQ, Zhao GN, Jin L, Ma BX. Li YL, et al. J Ovarian Res. 2024 Oct 2;17(1):195. doi: 10.1186/s13048-024-01521-1. J Ovarian Res. 2024. PMID: 39358769 Free PMC article. - Quantitative relationship between grip strength and quality of life in the older adult based on a restricted cubic spline model.
Meng F, Zhang Y, Liu C, Zhou C. Meng F, et al. Front Public Health. 2024 Sep 17;12:1417660. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417660. eCollection 2024. Front Public Health. 2024. PMID: 39355000 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Other Literature Sources
Medical