According to the statistics, over 70% of men are overweight, and 27% are obese; whilst 57% of women are classified as overweight. Photo credit: Stock image.
Brno, May 20 (BD) – Being overweight or obese is when one has abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in one’s body, which could lead to health issues. Obesity is a global concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating that worldwide obesity tripled since 1975.
Obesity is indicated by measuring one’s Body Mass Index (BMI), and WHO says that a person with a BMI of over 30 is considered to be obese; while having a BMI over 25 is considered as being overweight.
Various research indicates that in the Czech Republic, over 70% of men are overweight, whilst 27% of men are suffering from obesity – and these numbers are still increasing. (See, for example, WHO Czech Republic country profile or OECD Obesity Update.) Meanwhile, for the women, the figures are much less: 57% of women are overweight. “Women mainly take care of themselves, as they are worried about their looks. They want to be slim and beautiful,” explains Dita Pichlerová, an obesitologist.
Pichlerová continues to explain the statistical difference between men and women, in terms of obesity: “Men believe that aesthetics are not as important, and they usually see a doctor when they are not able to manage their physical activities. Men also get alarmed when their doctor informs them that they have diabetes, or high cholesterol.”
Statistics from WHO shows that only 66% of adults in the Czech Republic perform the sufficient amount of physical activity. What is alarming is that 40% of adults do not regularly engage in any sports or recreational physical activity, and are at greater risk of obesity. 21.4% of the Czech population eat fruits every day, but only 12% of men, which is another risk factor. However, men are more active in terms of sports and fitness. They spend an average of 3.6 hours per week on physical activity, while women only spend 3.2 hours.
The tendency to suffer from obesity is a genetic condition. However, it also depends on the external environment of a person – one’s lifestyle. “Our eating habits add to the overall situation. The family’s influence is important, as one’s appetite and food preferences are influenced by their childhood. Fighting food preferences and desires is a lifelong challenge, but habits can be adjusted to a reasonable standard after a while – then, one can enjoy their favorite yet (yet unhealthy) meals only occasionally,” says Dr. Ivo Procházka, a general practitioner who is highly involved with obesity treatments.
According to WHO, statistics from 2016 show that 26% of Czechia’s adults are defined as obese; and almost 67% of adults in the country are overweight.
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