Manifesto against obesity: a joint document proposes different measures to fight against obesity

Each March 4, commemorates the world obesity day with the aim of raising awareness of this epidemic disease which progresses in all age groups, reduces life expectancy and alters the quality of life of those who suffer from it. The significant repercussions it entails oblige overall management.

Recently it was introduced “Manifesto on Obesity” a document produced by 12 patient associationsin conjunction with the Patient and Family University, which is a center of academic innovation for patients, caregivers, family members, and healthcare professionals who are governed by the principles of patient-centered care.

The report was made the organization of two forums with medical specialists and of discussion groups with the participation of the Argentine Lupus Association, the Argentine Diabetes Federation, the Association of Rare Endocrine Pathologies, the Argentine Diabetes Protection League, the Association of People Living with Kidney Cancer, the Hemophilia Foundation, Lupus Córdoba Foundation, Comprehensive Community Care Foundation for Oncology Patients, Alianza Federal, Movimiento Ayuda Cáncer de Mama, Multiple Sclerosis Argentina and Fundación Argentina de Fibromyalgia Dante Mainieri.

The document seeks raise awareness of the importance of breaking through barriers and breaking down obstacless that patients face to receive adequate health care and improve their quality of life.

Obesity is a pandemic that causes at least 2.8 million deaths per year. In our country, 6 out of 10 adults are overweight or obese. Actually, a quarter of the population is obese a figure that has increased by 74% since the 2005 measurement.

“The result of this document represents the effort of patient organizations and medical specialists, who, through the generation of recommendations, express the scientific importance of the comprehensive approach to obesity in the country. This is a priority issue: obesity is a multifactorial disease which can be approached and treated to avoid the complications that this can lead to, ”described the doctor Gabriel LijteroffDirector of Scientific Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Federation (FAD).

For his part, Dr. Emilie ArrighiFounder and CEO of Patient and Family University, said, “Preparing research studies of this nature helps generate evidence that provides key information for health care decision-making and implementation of strategies providing health care that has a positive impact on the quality of life of people with obesity and also through education to reduce the risk of the general population developing it”.

Between the recommendations provided by the document has been established there need to develop:

– Prevention and health promotion programs regulated by public policies that promote healthy lifestyles based on scientific evidence.

– Education at all levels of society which facilitates the integration of healthy behaviors to combat the multifactorial origin of obesity and reduce social stigma.

– Guarantee of a global approach to the obese person which promotes access to multidisciplinary, free and quality care centered on the person, with a particular emphasis on access to mental health.

– Implementation and monitoring of public policies which make it possible to fight against obesity thanks to the coordinated participation of all the actors involved in creating healthier food environments.

– Communication campaigns at community level raise awareness of obesity, its prevention and its approach.

“All these Shares son indispensable and they should be part of an organized obesity plan. Although isolated initiatives are always productive, we must join forces to have a greater impact and change the course of this disease in society,” described the graduate. Sylvie Brunoldi, president of the Argentine League for the Protection of Diabetics (LAPDI).

obesity is a chronic non-communicable disease of multifactorial origin which has multiple health consequences at the physical, psychosocial and economic level. In addition, it increases the risk of developing other chronic diseases and aggravates their course. It is expected that in the coming decades sovertake smoking as the main preventable risk factor for cancer.

Besides, increases the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, mental illness, cancer and mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

“Now the manifesto belongs to the community. We make it available to the different actors that make up the health system and we hope that it will be useful in helping to improve the reality of obese people. Likewise, from the University of Patient and Family, as well as the specialists involved and patient organizations, we maintain our commitment to this problem to continue working on this path,” concluded Arrighi.

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