Overweight and Obesity: Sustainable Goal Development Project Proposal
Overweight and Obesity
According to THE WORLD BANK (2020), more than 2 billion adults were obese or overweight by 2016. The report shows that 44% of adults worldwide are suffering from the condition, with 70% of them being from low and middle-income nations. Consequently, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates worldwide obesity to have tripled since 1975 up to 2016 (WHO, 2020). The WHO (2020) statistics also revealed that 38 million children aged below five years were either obese or overweight in 2019. The primary reason for identifying overweight and obesity as a global health concern is because it increases mortality the risks for cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers, including breast and liver cancer. In addition, obesity increases the chances of premature death and disability (WHO, 2020). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020) associates obesity with poor mental health and reduced quality of life. Given its association with the leading causes of death worldwide, including heart disease and stroke, overweight and obesity are complex health conditions that need to be addressed.
The sustainable goal is to ensure that the world population leads a healthy life by 2030. This goal aims to reduce overweight and obesity for all ages by at least 25% by 2030. The condition will be addressed by reducing the consumption of processed foods, engaging in regular exercise, and adopting a healthy diet. Notably, preventive measures ranging from increasing consumer education to establishing childhood nutrition programs are the key to achieving sustainability.
This project targets healthcare consumers worldwide by increasing their knowledge of overweight and obesity. As a result, the intervention will address the problem at an individual level, thus giving people the responsibility to engage in early prevention. Conclusively, addressing overweight and obesity will reduce mortality rates among patients with chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
References
CDC, 2020. Adult Obesity. [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20serious%20because%20it,and%20some%20types%20of%20cancer.> [Accessed 20 January 2021].
THE WORLD BANK, 2020. Obesity: Health And Economic Consequences Of An Impending Global Challenge. [online] World Bank. Available at: <https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/nutrition/publication/obesity-health-and-economic-consequences-of-an-impending-global-challenge> [Accessed 20 January 2021].
WHO, 2020. Obesity And Overweight. [online] Who.int. Available at: <https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight> [Accessed 20 January 2021].