GLOBAL INCIDENCE OF OBESITY: PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS Matilda Asante (PhD, RD)

OUTLINE Overview of obesity Classification of obesity Epidemiology of obesity Public Health Impact

2009 Overview of Obesity Overweight and obesity are both chronic conditions that are the result of an energy imbalance over a period of time. The cause of this energy imbalance is multifactorial and varies from one person to another. Individual behaviours, environmental factors, and genetics all contribute to the complexity of the obesity epidemic. CDC

2009 Weight Classifications - A Review Body mass index (BMI) is a mathematical ratio calculated as weight (kg)/ height squared (m 2 ). Used to describe an individuals relative weight for height, and is significantly correlated with total body fat content. BMI is intended for those ≥20 yrs. Waist and hip circumference, hip waist to hip ratio are also commonly used to measure abdominal obesity With a BMI of: You are considered: Below 18.5Underweight Healthy Weight Overweight 30 or higher Obese CDC

Weight Classifications - A Review Childhood obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) greater than two (2) standard deviations above the WHO growth standard median(WHO, 2006). Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems (Freedman et al, 2001, 2009) CDC

RISING TREND OF OBESITY Obesity is a major public health problem across the world. Both developed and developing countries are affected by this phenomenon. Concerns have been raised about its increasing prevalence because of its negative effects on people’s health and on the sustainability of current and future healthcare systems. CDC

PREVALENCE OF OBESITY The WHO Global Database on BMI  The prevalence of obesity doubled between : 1.5 billion adults were overweight, 400m obese 2014: 1.9 billion adults overweight, 600 million obese. Projections in 2015: Approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight, 700 million will be obese.

OBESITY: SITUATION AND TRENDS

Mean Body Mass Index -Male and Female

CHILD HOOD OBESITY Childhood obesity is also increasing worldwide – one in ten school-aged child is obese/ overweight, which is equal to 155 million children, m are classified as obese. In 2013, 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese (WHO, 2015) In lower and middle income countries the rate of increase of childhood overweight and obesity has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries (WHO, 2015) CDC

Obesity -Ghana Biritwum et al.,2005 – Prevalence of obesity 5.5% –  females (7.4%) compared to males (2.8%) –  In Greater Accra (16.1%) and virtually not present in Upper East or Upper West – Associated with higher income and urban residency Ghana School Survey (2012) – Overall in Accra and Kumasi – 15%, Private (21%), Public 11%

Tommy L. S. Visscher Eur Heart J 2012;33: Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author For permissions please

Public Health Impact: II  in disability and mortality Worldwide, at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese An estimated 35.8 million (2.3%) of global DALYs are caused by overweight or obesity.

Conclusion The epidemic of obesity is a public health crisis. It is causing an immense burden of morbidity and mortality resulting in enormous economic, social and human costs. Preventive measures should be intensified to reduce public health threat of obesity, in order to safeguard the future health and wealth of the world.

Reversing the obesity epidemic is a shared responsibility All hands on deck

References Biritwum RB, J Gyapong J, Mensah G (2005). The Epidemiology of Obesity in GhanaGhana Med J Sep; 39(3): 82–85. Healthy Communities: What Local Governments Can Do To Reduce and Prevent Obesity, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Freedman D, Wang J, Thornton JC, et al. Classification of body fatness by body mass index- for-age categories among children. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 2009;163:801–811. Freedman DS, Kettel L, Serdula MK, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. The relation of childhood BMI to adult adiposity: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics2005;115:22–27. National Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2011) Ministry of Health, Government of Ghana. Obesity and overweight, Accessed on 5/07/2015 WHO Global Health Observatory (GHO) data. Obesity, Situation and trends. on 5/07/2015