Question

Letter to the editor for local newspaper regarding obesity?

Answer 1

Editor:

I am very concerned about the global issue of obesity. Are we doing enough in society and is our government doing anything to help with this global problem? So what are we going to do about this problem ?

A study by the World Health Organization identified 42 million children under the age of five as obese. Obese children have an increased chance of staying that way into adulthood. The WHO states people with extra weight take a huge risk on health care and risk factors include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea and other chronic illnesses.

We live in an environment that promotes obesity with fast-food restaurants that promote saturated fat, cheap junk food, and electronic technologies that keep people sedentary. The best solution is to increase their intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, decrease fat and sugar consumption and increase physical activity. We need to have societal involvement and political commitment and involvement of private and public sectors. Improving healthy habits is an individual and societal concern. We need to help make healthy food options affordable and accessible.

The role of the school is essential to help promote healthy diets and physical activity. We need a tool provided at the national level in order to deal with this problem of obesity. People must have knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills to help make informed decisions and practise healthy behaviours.The role of the parent is a very important one. we also must be a role model to ourselves. We must eat healthy, cook healthy and remain active to maintain a healthy weight. We must encourage activity at home; encourage walking to and from activities and decrease computers, TV and games usage.

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