Obesity affects more than one million people worldwide.

 On the occasion of World Obesity Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to do more to combat this preventable and avoidable health crisis.

Obesity is a disease that affects the majority of the body's systems. She affects the heart, the liver, the reins, the articulations, and the recording device. She causes a slew of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and cerebral vascular accidents, as well as cancers of many types and mental health issues.

Obese people are three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital for a Covid-19 infection.

Previously thought to be a problem of high-income countries, obesity and obesity-related diseases are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas.

Obesity is not a death sentence. The key to preventing this fléau is to act early, ideally before the birth of a child. For all mothers and young children, good nutrition throughout pregnancy, followed by an exclusive breastfeeding period until the age of six months, and then a continuous breastfeeding period until the age of two years and beyond, is the best option.

At the same time, countries must work together to improve the food environment so that everyone has access to a healthy diet and can afford it.

Effective measures include limiting the marketing of high-grain, high-sugar, and high-salt foods and beverages to children, taxing sugary beverages, and facilitating access to a healthy and affordable diet. Cities and communities must create safe spaces for walking, biking, and recreational activities, and schools must assist parents in instilling healthy habits in their children from an early age.

On a number of fronts, the OMS responds to the global obesity crisis. She monitors global trends and prevalence, develops a wide range of guidelines for the prevention and treatment of obesity and overweight, and offers countries technical assistance and advice on implementation.

On the request of member states, the OMS Secretariat is currently developing an expedited plan of action to combat obesity, attack the epidemic in high-prevalence countries, and catalyze global action. This strategy will be discussed at the 76th World Health Assembly, which will take place in Mai 2022.

Obesity affects 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children worldwide. This number continues to rise. According to the World Health Organization, around 167 million people - adults and children - will be in poor health by 2025 as a result of obesity or excess weight.