Patients come in all shapes and sizes, but the size of patients walking into my room seems to be getting bigger and bigger by the day.
Recent statistics from the WHO stated that most countries in the world now have almost 50% of their population either overweight or obese. This means that 1 in 2 person that we see everyday have weight issues.
There has been several warnings form health authorities across the globe that obesity will be a significant burden on the health care system.
Researchers even came out with data that those affected with coronavirus who are obese are more likely to die from the infection compared to their ideal weight counterparts. Reasons being, those with obesity have more co morbidities, weaker immune system and poorer lung function.
Obesity also leads to reduced fertility in women, with associated problems of irregular menses or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
What has changed over the years? Why has society developed this problem?
1. Sedentary lifestyle has been increasing with the use of technology. Whether it being used as excuses for people too busy to hit the park or the gym, or making life so much easier that we don’t have to get up and walk to get something, physical inactivity leads to the accumulation of fat in tissues.
2. Stress has also been a contributing factor for many, as society that we live in struggles to make ends meet, despite working day in day out. Let’s face it, when we feel stressed many of us will turn to comfort food to feel better. Most comfort foods like fast food or even dishes from the mamak shop are high in carbs and fats. Not to mention a decent cup of teh tarik, iced latte or bubble tea which are high in sugars.
3. Thirdly, have our palates evolved into liking sugary and cheesy food and disliking vegetables and full grains? Everything seemed to have cheese added onto them lately, ranging from murtabak, kuih bangkit, famous pisang goreng or even a supposedly healthy food – sushi. As Asians, probably out dietary change from Eastern to Westernized food does put an increase in our weights.
I have came across many families with children who are reluctant to eat vegetables, only to find that their fathers don’t eat vegetables as well.
4. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that as a society, we have been become one with decreasing self control and lack of appropriate knowledge as well. The community has to take charge in educating themselves with up-to-date knowledge regarding a well balanced lifestyle. Moving up the economic ladder towards a high income nation means that we have a society that is educated and able to make well informed decisions regarding their health.
Good self control means being able to adhere to healthy eating habits and regular exercise despite our busy lifestyles and various luring eateries out there. Home cooked meals are the best for families but how many of us are able to provide these to our families everyday?
Having said all that, I hope to have highlighted the serious problem that we are currently facing and therefore serious discussions have to take place by various stakeholders and healthcare system to deal with this. Otherwise Malaysia will be another time bomb ticking away waiting to explode.
