Nigerians have been told not to think that obesity was a lifestyle but it should be seen as a disease which can be cured by medical experts if detected early enough.
This were the views of Medical Experts at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria as the country joins the international community to commomerate World Obesity Day with the theme “changing perspectives let’s talk about obesity”
Statistics show that about 12 million persons in Nigeria were estimated to be obese in 2020 with the prevalence considerably higher among women. Obesity is caused by widespread sedentary lifestyles and a surge in processed food outlets and most times hereditary.
The World Obesity Day provides an opportunity to create awareness and talk about the disease which many believed was a lifestyle with medical experts highlighting some of the risk factors of obesity.
They say the increasing rate of obesity was alarming hence the need for those who are obese to seek medical care and as well as engage in physical activity. The medical experts advise parents to be mindful of the kind of food they give to their children.
March 4 of every year is a day set aside to mark World Obesity Day.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
