More Ugandans Becoming Obese
OBESITY is reaching alarming proportions globally. As the United States government announced last week that obesity was fast catching up with smoking as the No. 1 killer disease, health officials said it was a problem in Uganda too.
By Charles Wendo
and agencies
OBESITY is reaching alarming proportions globally. As the United States government announced last week that obesity was fast catching up with smoking as the No. 1 killer disease, health officials said it was a problem in Uganda too.
The US government is campaigning to move Americans to eat better and exercise more.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed smoking was still the leading cause of death in 2000. But poor diet and physical inactivity caused 400,000 deaths. This was an increase from 300,000 deaths in 1990.
An estimated 64 % of the American population, are overweight, increasing their chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer and various forms of disability.
Whereas under-nutrition is a bigger problem in Uganda, health officials have warned of danger signs, that more people are becoming obese.
“We have seen an increase in diabetes and heart diseases as a result of obesity,†said Dr. Alice Baingana, Ministry of Health principal medical officer in charge of disability.
Baingana said obesity has been increasing particularly among urban school children and office workers. This is associated with western diets and lack of exercise.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2000/1) report says overweight is more common among urban women and generally women in central and western Uganda. The report doesn’t have data on men.
According to the report, 13.8% of Ugandan women are over-weight. This varies from 5.1% in eastern Uganda, 9.0% in eastern Uganda, 14.8% in western Uganda and 21.5% in eastern Uganda.
“Americans need to understand that overweight and obesity are literally killing us,†US health and human services secretary, Tommy Thompson told a news conference.
“We consider this a major threat,†added National Institutes of Health Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni.
The US government has launched a public relations campaign recently stressing that people do not need to shake up their lives to lose weight, but can take small steps such as walking to work sometimes or taking the stairs instead of elevators.
“We don’t need to go out and run a marathon, go to a gym or join a health club,†Thompson said.
He urged Americans to eat fruits and vegetables instead of fatty foods, occasionally ride a bike and take Sunday strolls instead of drives.
“We will transform the United States from a country that embraces treatment to a country that embraces prevention,†said U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Richard Carmona.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that obesity leads to a number of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers and bone problems. It also results in difficulty in walking, breathing, infertility.
WHO urged people to eat more fruits and greens, avoid fatty, sugary foods and exercise more.
Globally the number of obese people has now exceeded under-fed people, according to the World Watch Institute, a US-based sustainable development lobby.
Ends
and agencies
OBESITY is reaching alarming proportions globally. As the United States government announced last week that obesity was fast catching up with smoking as the No. 1 killer disease, health officials said it was a problem in Uganda too.
The US government is campaigning to move Americans to eat better and exercise more.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed smoking was still the leading cause of death in 2000. But poor diet and physical inactivity caused 400,000 deaths. This was an increase from 300,000 deaths in 1990.
An estimated 64 % of the American population, are overweight, increasing their chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer and various forms of disability.
Whereas under-nutrition is a bigger problem in Uganda, health officials have warned of danger signs, that more people are becoming obese.
“We have seen an increase in diabetes and heart diseases as a result of obesity,†said Dr. Alice Baingana, Ministry of Health principal medical officer in charge of disability.
Baingana said obesity has been increasing particularly among urban school children and office workers. This is associated with western diets and lack of exercise.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (2000/1) report says overweight is more common among urban women and generally women in central and western Uganda. The report doesn’t have data on men.
According to the report, 13.8% of Ugandan women are over-weight. This varies from 5.1% in eastern Uganda, 9.0% in eastern Uganda, 14.8% in western Uganda and 21.5% in eastern Uganda.
“Americans need to understand that overweight and obesity are literally killing us,†US health and human services secretary, Tommy Thompson told a news conference.
“We consider this a major threat,†added National Institutes of Health Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni.
The US government has launched a public relations campaign recently stressing that people do not need to shake up their lives to lose weight, but can take small steps such as walking to work sometimes or taking the stairs instead of elevators.
“We don’t need to go out and run a marathon, go to a gym or join a health club,†Thompson said.
He urged Americans to eat fruits and vegetables instead of fatty foods, occasionally ride a bike and take Sunday strolls instead of drives.
“We will transform the United States from a country that embraces treatment to a country that embraces prevention,†said U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Richard Carmona.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that obesity leads to a number of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancers and bone problems. It also results in difficulty in walking, breathing, infertility.
WHO urged people to eat more fruits and greens, avoid fatty, sugary foods and exercise more.
Globally the number of obese people has now exceeded under-fed people, according to the World Watch Institute, a US-based sustainable development lobby.
Ends