More than 6 out of 10 adults in Argentina have overweight or obesity and figures in children and adolescents are not much more favorable (4 out of 10). In addition, these statistics would have increased in recent years as shown by certain works published by the Argentine Nutrition Society (SAN) from the pandemic.
In that sense, the results of a survey that expose the need to strengthen awareness and education around this public health problem, because they persist ignorance and erroneous beliefs about many of these issues, have just been presented. Particularly, 4 out of 10 adults overweight or obesity consider that their picture was and is caused by their lack of will.
In this regard, the Dr. Virginia Busnellia specialist in nutrition, an expert in the subject and current president of the Argentine Nutrition Society, said that an erroneous and reductionist vision of obesity still persists. “The reality is that it is a health problem with multiple causes, which include genetic, metabolic, hormonal, psychological and environmental factors. It is essential to continue working on awareness to understand that obesity is not a matter of nature or lack of will, but a complex reality that requires an integral and free approach of stigmas,” he emphasized.
The survey, carried out in Argentina by Neuronal Crafted Data -the Data Intelligence area of Urban Communication Group -at the request of Novo Nordisk Pharma Argentina, was carried out in October 2024 and included 350 participants, over 18 years (81% women and 19%, men) who said they had excess weight and having made at least one consultation with a health professional for this cause.
“We present this research near World Obesity Day, but framing every March as a world month, and we trust that it contributes to make this problem visible, make us reflect and generate conversation about it. We trust that this work is the beginning to deepen the perceptions and challenges around obesity in our country, and thus contribute to improve health, ”he said Gabriel Barasch of Crafted Data Neuronal.
Another worrying results is that Only 3 out of 10 consider that overweight and obesity are preventablewhen there are really effective strategies to avoid their development.
“The promotion of healthy habits, such as a balanced diet, generating safe environments, and leading a life that includes regular practice of physical activity, adequate sleep hours and conscious management of emotions, among other measures, are strategies that can and should be applied to prevent the development of obesity. In addition, nutritional education for general health, and the implementation of effective public policies perform a crucial role. Responsibility goes far beyond the individual plane and crosses all social, business, political and governmental sectors, ”said the Dr. Ana María CappellettiCoordinator of the Obesity Working Group of the San.
The survey also stated that 9 out of 10 people overweight or obesity claim to have suffered discrimination. This stigma can generate negative emotional and psychological consequences, such as low self -esteem, anxiety, and depression, which in turn can hinder the search for adequate treatments for its control.
“All, as a society, each from the place that corresponds to it, we must contribute to the construction of a more empathic and inclusive society, free of the prejudices and stigma that perpetuate the discrimination and social exclusion of the overweight and obesity people,” they emphasized from the San.
Another relevant aspect is that 6 out of 10 people overweight or obesity consider that sustaining results in time is the most important factor for treatment success. However, 5 out of 10 people discourage and abandon treatment when they do not achieve the expected results.
At this point, the Dr. Busnelli He made special emphasis, highlighting that “on the one hand, this reflects the chronicity of obesity, a problem that is not resolved from one day to the other. From a biological point of view, obesity tends to perpetuate itself, since when a person begins to lose weight, their own organism activates compensatory mechanisms whose objective is to recover the lost weight,” obesity protects obesity. “
“This highlights the importance of having the accompaniment of a health professional, who will guide the process safely and effectively and help the person to move away from false promises and magical solutions that can waste time, money and even put their health at risk. In addition, the support of a professional or medical team allows monitoring over time, taking into account the medical history, lifestyle and individual needs of each person, in order to determine together the most appropriate strategies that really provide the support it needs, ”added the president of the SAN.
Finally, in line with the previous point, the survey evidenced that 4 out of 10 people overweight or obesity do not know the existence of pharmacological tools for treatment.
“It is essential that people overweight and obesity take measures to be better and do not give up if in the past they have tried to lose weight and did not achieve it, or if they reached results, but could not sustain them; Today there are paths to do it. Medication is another pillar of treatment, which is always based on changes in lifestyle. In the medical consultation the problem can be addressed in an integral – but also individualized – to design and implement, together, a sustainable plan, ”said the Dr. Cappelletti.
The need to prevent or address obesity is not an aesthetic issue, but a health problem that can have complex implications by increasing the future risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, in addition to negatively impacting mental health and quality of life.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
