August 24, 2006

According to new research starvation is less common than overeating. There is a misconception that starvation is a major problem, especially in some parts of Africa and Asia. However, statistics given at an international conference in Australia present a different picture. According to Prof Barry Popkin, a nutritionist from the University of North Carolina, America, the reality is that there are far more cases of obesity than under nourishment in the world.

America tops the list with the highest rate of obesity, while Japan has the lowest ratio. In the United Kingdom about two thirds of adults are considered obese out of which a fifth are males while almost a quarter are females. A more distressing trend is obesity amongst children which has doubled in six-year-olds and tripled in 15-year-olds.

Many interesting points came to light at this conference, such as the fact that junk food or bad eating habits are not the only causes of obesity. It was also pointed out that if city planners do the right kind of planning, the chances of obesity can be reduced dramatically. Japan is a good example in this regard where the public transport system is extremely efficient and commutation of the entire population is based on this transport system, which also involves walking from one point to another.

In the US, on the other hand, most people drive to work as well as any other place they wish to visit. Their entire system is based on commuting in private vehicles. The result is that an average American takes only 1,000 to 3,000 steps a day while his Japanese counterpart walks four miles everyday. Junk food is also a big contributor to obesity and many schools have banned pop drinks from vending machines and replaced them with milk in the US.

In the subcontinent, obesity is more than just a health risk especially for young girls. It is a social problem because parents have difficulty in finding suitors for them and the dilemma is aggravated by unethical advertising of fat reducing products. Obesity, then, becomes not only a health hazard but also a source of intense psychological and social pressure disrupting their lives. It is, therefore, surprising that the government that censors advertisements for undue exposure of women has no concern about advertisements that mock young girls on the basis of their physical appearance.

Another study dealing with the psychological problems originating from obesity, points out that parents who exert unreasonable pressure on their children because of their weight, cause irreparable damage to them. Sometimes even one sentence or reference in a derogatory manner can cause the child to lose self-confidence and withdraw into a shell. Therefore, parents should try to be cautious and deal with the issue tactfully.

Being smart and presentable and having a body like a model is desired by all but it is not the end in itself as human beings are endowed with much more than their body weight and looks. It is also true that obesity gives rise to some serious ailments like diabetes or heart diseases and therefore it is good to maintain healthy eating habits and adopt a lifestyle that reduces the chances of obesity.

In this regard, our own city governments should learn a lesson from Japan and establish a public transport system that is safe and reliable and stimulates people to walk more.

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