HealthTalk
Doctor ’ s notes
Dr Rik Heymans is a general practitioner in Nerja and writes on developments in the world of medicine
Obesity
Approximately one in six adults living in the EU is obese , a survey reveals . The data also show that obesity rates increase with age and a lower educational level . Overall , 15.9 % of adults living in the EU were found to be obese ( body mass index [ BMI ] 30kg / m2 or higher ) while 35.7 % were pre-obese ( BMI 25- 30kg / m2 ). 46.1 % had a normal weight ( BMI 18.5-25kg / m2 ) and 2.3 % were classified as underweight ( BMI < 18.5kg / m2 ). These results were published by Eurostat , the statistical office of the EU . This spectacular increase in obesity rates is described as a tsunami that “ comes steadily and bears considerable consequences , especially in the long term .”
The explanation ? High caloric intake and lack of physical exercise in a world with lifts , escalators , travellators , cars and other ‘ facilitators ’ have become an almost worldwide phenomenon . Psychosocial stress is exaggerating the problem , making us unable to resist the 24-hour availability of healthy and unhealthy food . Despite cultural differences , the trend is the same everywhere : loss of muscle mass and gain of fat mass .
About 15 years ago , the percentage of people with obesity was about 10 % to 14 % in most European regions ; now it is nearing 16 %, with a deterioration of health leading to increases in
diabetes , hypertension , dyslipidemia , cardiovascular disease , and stroke , as well as cancer and much more . Altogether , it means all this will become harder to finance , life expectancy will go down , and , especially , life quality will deteriorate considerably . The gains of the last century will thus largely become undone …
And , with the festive season coming up , with friends and families gathering around the table , with us inevitably indulging in some extra food and drinks ( and it is not water I am referring to !) there is hope for those who happen to pick up some extra kilos or pounds : it is no secret that losing weight is important for controlling diabetes .
In a new study , almost 600 overweight patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomised to an enhanced diabetes weight loss programme provided by Weight Watchers . The other group received standard care with a visit to a dietitian , along with some printed dietary information . Over the course of a year , the commercial group not only lost more weight but also achieved better glycaemic control .
Almost all — 95 % of the patients were taking diabetes medications at the beginning of the study . But one year later , 26 % of the patients in the Weight Watchers group were able to reduce their medication compared with only 12 % in the standard-care group . This is something which I have personally observed in my clinical practice here in Nerja .
The bottom line : Patients with diabetes who need to lose weight might do better with a structured weight loss program like Weight Watchers .
So there is hope to shed those gained centimetres - but it should not be a licence to first kill off every tapa , cake or bottle which comes your way : it makes the exercise and dieting afterwards just so much harder ! May all my readers have a blessed Christmas , and a wonderful New Year !!
© Dr RIK HEYMANS c / Angustias 24 , Nerja .
Tel : 95 252 6775
36