Obesity is a fairly modern problem. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2015 there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults, with more than 700 million of this amount obese.

This worldwide epidemic called 'globesity' is spreading faster in poor and developing countries than in the industrialised world. Fed by the modern American diet and lifestyle, Jamaicans are now listed among the fattest people on the planet.

CAUSES OF OBESITY

Our people are leading more sedentary lifestyles - spent driving rather than walking, cycling and getting exercise. Our children are spending many hours watching television and playing computer games instead of running around and playing.

High-calorie, high-fat and sugar-laden foods are cheap and plentiful. And, the fast food industry spends its vast resources brainwashing adults and children into unhealthy eating habits. The budget of Jamaica's Ministry of Health in promoting healthy lifestyles is ridiculously small in comparison.

Our culture misguidedly believes that it is 'nice' to be fat.

Many obese persons do not eat breakfast - the most important meal of the day - but eat heavily late in the day.

IMPACT OF OBESITY

Diabesity is a new word used to describe the frequent combination of obesity and Type two diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of Type two diabetics worldwide has grown over fivefold in 20 years. Hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans are suffering unnecessarily from this largely preventable and curable disease.

Obesity also increases the risk of other serious health problems, including heart and circulatory disease, arthritis, gall bladder and kidney disease, and cancers of the breast, colon, uterus, oesophagus and kidneys. Medical experts have listed over 150 medical conditions related to obesity. They consider the impact of obesity and weight-related illness to be now greater than that of cigarette smoking.

A GREAT SOLUTION

In Jamaica, a group of trained weight-loss coaches is using a very effective strategy to solve this problem. In various locations, we are conducting weight-loss challenges. Participants can sign up and attend a weekly one-hour class for 12 weeks. Each week they meet with their coach for education, monitoring, motivation and support. They have fun while changing their lives and are rewarded for their weight loss and may even win cash prizes. The results have been fantastic.

Jamaica must turn back the globesity epidemic.

You may email Dr Tony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on Power 106 FM on Fridays at 8 p.m.