Obesity: a global challenge for the G7BY PIETRO PAGANINI
- 21 June 2024
- Posted by: Competere
- Category: Senza categoria
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In his editorial for La Prealpina, Pietro Paganini calls for the G7 to focus on obesity, identifying it as one of the main public health challenges of the 21st century. The call to action, stemming from a letter we sent together with the Center for the Study and Research on Obesity at the State University of Milan, aims to prompt a concerted global effort.
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You can read the full article in Italian on La Prealpina or a summary below.
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Obesity is not just an aesthetic issue but a neglected syndemic, which governments, politicians, and civil society tend to overlook. It combines the challenges of non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases with socio-economic factors that amplify its impact. Globally, obesity is a leading cause of indirect mortality and negatively affects mental health, social relationships, and economic productivity.
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The statistics are alarming: more than a billion people worldwide are obese, including 159 million children and adolescents and 879 million adults. In Europe, 59% of adults and almost one in three children are overweight or obese. If the current trend is not reversed, it is estimated that by 2035, more than half of the world’s population could be overweight or obese, with an economic impact estimated at $4.32 trillion.
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The direct economic impact of obesity is already evident, with exponentially growing healthcare costs associated with treating related diseases. Additionally, reduced productivity and increased absenteeism due to obesity burden national economies, particularly in middle- and low-income countries.
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Obesity results from a complex mix of factors, including diet, lifestyle, sleep quality, emotional state, socio-economic conditions, and genetic factors. Consequently, policies to combat it must be personalized and multidisciplinary. Current policies have proven inadequate: front-of-package nutritional labeling is an example.
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In conclusion, technological advancements and new opportunities offered by the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and personalized medicine provide essential tools for implementing effective tailored solutions. To promote such innovative and multidisciplinary policies, the role of the G7 is crucial, as its objectives align with the need to address the serious issue of obesity—one that not only threatens individual and collective health but also has profound economic implications.
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