#WorldObesityDay 2017 is focusing on tackling the causes of #obesity to avoid #NCDs
#WorldObesityDay 2017 is focusing on tackling the causes of #obesity to avoid #NCDs: World Obesity Day was established in 2015 as an annual campaign with the goal of stimulating and supporting practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis. World Obesity Day is observed on 11 OCT. The objectives of World Obesity Day are to:
- Increase knowledge and understanding of the challenge of obesity, and what can and should be done to overcome it
- Encourage governments to take urgent action to meet their commitment to halt the rise in obesity by 2025
- Share national experiences of campaigning to enable the spread of best practices
- Encourage member associations and supporters to get involved with advocacy and campaigning on obesity related issues.
World Obesity Day is led by the World Obesity Federation as part of their Action Initiative. World Obesity’s mission is to lead and drive global efforts to reduce, prevent and treat obesity.
This World Obesity Day 2017 call on all governments, health service providers, insurers and philanthropic organisations to prioritise investment in tackling obesity. This means investing in obesity treatment services, early intervention and prevention.
World Obesity Day – Calls for Action
1. Invest in treatment services to support people affected by obesity
To tackle obesity it is vital that everyone who wants treatment has access to the best services available. Treatment services around the world must be strengthened. This will require:
- Recognition that obesity is a disease and needs appropriate professional support
- Universal access, health coverage and insurance cover for obesity treatments
- Clear care pathways for people affected by obesity
- Multi-disciplinary teams to support the treatment of obesity
- Access to pharmaceuticals and medical devices as appropriate for individual needs
- Comprehensive follow-up services
2. Invest in early intervention to improve the success of treatment
Everyone who wants support with weight management should have access to early interventions. Early intervention means investing in:
- National guidelines for the care and management for all people affected by
overweight and obesity, particularly those from vulnerable populations - Freely available primary health care consultations
- Health care professionals trained in patient engagement and avoidance of weight stigmatization
- Group and individual weight management services
- Personal, family, school and workplace support
- Universal access to monitoring and continuing care services to support
3. Invest in prevention to reduce the need for treatment
Preventing weight gain and preventing weight re-gain are essential to meeting the World Health Organization targets and are also important for ensuring that obesity treatment is effective. Preventing obesity needs to include:
- Education to ensure popular support for creating healthy environments
- Improved local food environments to ensure easy access to affordable healthy food
- Improved local neighbourhoods which support active leisure and travel
- Market interventions to support and improve dietary choices
- Health promotion throughout the life course to protect the health of current and future generations
