One of Three Adults is Fighting Obesity in Turkey

One of every three adults and one in every four children in Turkey maintain their lives as an obese or overweight. Turkey Obesity Research Association Chairman Prof. Dr. Volkan Demirhan Yumuk explained the causes, prevalence and treatment of obesity to Civil Pages on May 22, World Obesity Day.

Obesity, which is defined as excessive fat accumulation in the body to the extent that it impairs health by the World Health Organization, is considered as one of the 10 risky diseases. Today, factors such as reduced physical activity, dietary habits, age, gender and genetics are effective in the emergence of obesity which is the second leading cause of preventable deaths after smoking.

Obesity which negatively affects the quality of life, also prepares the ground for many health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, respiratory system diseases and musculoskeletal system diseases. According to the data of the Ministry of Health, 20.9 percent of women and 13.7 percent of men and in total17 percent of the population struggles with obesity in Turkey.

“Obesity and Diseases Caused by Obesity Can Be Prevented”

Expressing that obesity is an important public health problem in the world and in Turkey, Yumuk says: “Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, stroke, fatty liver, joint diseases, sleep disturbance, depression and some cancers. Obesity is a preventable disease. When you prevent obesity, you also prevent the diseases listed above. It is essential to equip health professionals and the public with the knowledge and skills that can prevent obesity.”

Yumuk who states that the most commonly used method to define one person as obese is the calculation of body mass index, says: “Body mass index is obtained by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters. Individuals with a body mass index of 30 and above are considered obese. If the body mass index is between 25-29.9, they are defined as overweight.”

“Obesity Rate Among Primary School Students is 10 Percent”

Indicating that the frequency of obesity among adults has been increased in the world by 3 times between the years 1975 and 2016, Yumuk mentions about the frequency of obesity in Turkey as: “According to the data of the World Health Organization in 2016, there are 650 million obesity patients in the world. Comparing the results of the frequency study conducted in every 12 years, a 40 percent increase in the obese adult population was observed in Turkey. We can say that one out of every three people in our country has obesity. Children are also negatively affected by the rapid increase in obesity. Studies show that one in every 4 children in our country is overweight or obese. According to Turkey Childhood Obesity Survey, the rate of obesity among primary school students is 10 percent.”

Multidisciplinary Treatment in Obesity

Noting that obesity is a disease that can be treated, Yumuk says: “Obesity is a multidisciplinary disease. The diagnosis and treatment of obesity should be performed in fully equipped obesity centers with a team of physicians, dieticians, exercise specialists, psychologists, nurses and bariatric surgeons.”

Expressing that obesity is a lifelong disease and therefore requires constant monitoring, Yumuk says: “Even if one loses weight with the change of lifestyle, with obesity medicines or surgery, there is always a risk of regaining weight. Post-treatment follow-up can greatly prevent weight gain.”

“Quarantine May Generalize Obesity”

Yumuk, who states that the immobility of millions of people who stayed at home in order to protect themselves from the epidemic caused by the Coronavirus that had emerged in China in December 2019, may lead to behaviors that increase food intake and decrease physical activity, says: “Obesity may become widespread during the quarantine and social isolation periods. There will also be disruptions in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases.”

A Commission Has Been Set Up

In order to combat obesity which is a chronic disease that spreads rapidly in the world and in Turkey, a Subcommittee of Methods on Combating Obesity and For The Determination of Malpractice Allegations in Surgical Practices and On The Measures to be Taken were set up in the parliament.

Turkey Public Health Directorate’s Head of the Healthy Nutrition and Active Life Department Nazan Yardım who had spoken at the commission which was held in January said that, according to the results of the 2017 Turkey Nutrition and Health Survey, obesity has reached 42 percent among women, 26 percent among men, and 34 percent in total among adults over the age 19.

The Consumption of Salt Is Reduced

Stating that salt consumption has decreased in Turkey, Yardım stated that salt consumption, which was 18 grams per person has decreased to 15 grams in 2012, and another study conducted in 2017 recorded that salt consumption decreased to 10.2 grams per person.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Obesity is More Common in the West of Turkey

Expressing that obesity is more common in the western part of Turkey, Yardım says, “Obesity, which is 9.9 percent across Turkey, increases to 16 percent when you head westward. It is around 13 percent in Thrace, 13.5 percent in Istanbul and around 12.6 percent in the Western Black Sea region. But when we look at Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, we don’t see obesity. When you add being overweight to the equation, the western regions are approaching 30 percent, but the eastern regions are below the Turkey average. “

 “Obesity Is Our National Problem”

Healthy Nutrition and Dietary Specialist Dr. Ender Saraç expressed his opinions in the commission and listed the reasons why obesity is common among children as follows: “Candies and carbonated drinks which are given as a reward for children in the first 2 years increase their fat cells. For this reason, fat cells increase with the high glycemic index diet of children and this leads to the tendency to obesity. Obesity is now our most important national problem, nobody is aware of that. It transforms into a higher glycemic index structure throughout the child’s life, the pancreas has difficulty and insulin resistance develops. First two years of a child must be of vital importance. Public service ads must be made for not feeding children with things such as sweets, pastries, coke etc.”