CEBU, July 6 (PIA) -- People who are obese and
overweight are at high risk to developing chronic diseases like diabetes and
high blood equally placing them in danger to stroke and heart attack.
According to Dr. Gerry Tan, chairman of the Division of
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism of the Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital
bared the incidence of overweight and obesity in the country is increasing and
the figure could double in the next five to 10 years.
“Chronic diseases are not curable but they are treatable; meaning
one has to take a lifetime medication in order to live,” said Tan during the
recent forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7)
that highlighted the celebration of July as National Nutrition Month.
Tan also said there is a link between cancer and obesity
explaining that fat cells produce inflammatory substances that can trigger
cancer production. “If you probably have parents, friends and relatives who
have breast cancer, most likely they are overweight,” said Tan.
“We are worried on the rise of prevalence of malignancies to
overweight and obese people who are at health risk of their liver, breast,
uterus, and bladder,” said Tan.
According to Tan, the big problem is we look at overweight
children as cute and that is why parents want their children to look fat.
Parents play a large role in giving proper nutrition to their children and to
immediately correct early case of overweight and obesity, said Tan.
If a child has one obese parent, the child is three to four times
likely to become obese in adulthood while if both parents are obese, the child
has an even higher risk of about 10 times, bared Tan.
“Parents should start practicing their children proper nutrition
at an early age. It is not easy to lose weight when you are older because your
fat cells have already formed,” he added.
The National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) with the Media Information
Network for Nutrition and Development (MIND 7), academe, different local
nutrition committees, and other partners and stakeholders joined hands in a
collaborative effort to campaign for a healthy lifestyle as the country kicks
off the celebration of the 41st National Nutrition Month this July with the
theme “Timbang Iwasto sa Tamang Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo.” (fcr/Jay-Ileen
Engalla PIT Intern/PIA 7)
- See
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http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1061435894512/obese-people-at-risk-to-heart-diseases#sthash.Jlbd5y3h.dpuf