Obesity and overweight: only 6% of Argentines consume recommended fruits and vegetables

In Argentina, almost a quarter of the adult population suffers from obesity. According to the latest national statistics for 2013 and 2018, in 5 years, the proportion of Argentinean adults with obesity rose from 20.8% to 25.4%.

Obesity is a disease characterized by an increase in excess body fat whose magnitude and distribution conditions people's overall health. Along with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and sedentary lifestyle, it predisposes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health complications.

“Chronic non-communicable diseases are the main health threat, accounting for 71% of the world's deaths annually. In Argentina, these diseases are responsible for 73% of deaths. It is estimated that 1 in 5 deaths globally are attributable to inadequate nutrition,” says Gustavo Frechtel, head of the Nutrition division of the Hospital de Clínicas de Buenos Aires.

How to differentiate overweight from obesity?

One of the main indicators for assessing weight is the body mass index (BMI), which establishes the relationship between an individual's weight and the square of his or her height. If that calculation is greater than 25, the person is overweight; if he is over 30, obese.

“Other parameters, such as waist circumference or percentage of body fat mass, are very useful when evaluating an individual nutritionally and determining whether they are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease or other metabolic diseases such as diabetes,” Frechtel points out.

The main causes of obesity can be prevented: excess calories in diets based on ultra-processed foods, increased intake of sugars, fats, sugary drinks, and decreased energy expenditure for those who have sedentary behaviors . In addition, other factors such as genetic predisposition and some diseases in particular should be added.

“There is no doubt that quarantine confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic was an important factor in the alteration of healthy eating habits. On the other hand, physical activity was reduced and the difficulty of accessibility to the health system also played a role. All these causes led to an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity,” Frechtel warned.

The poor and unvaried diet explains much of the increase in cases of obesity. The National Survey of Risk Factors of the Ministry of Health of the Nation, indicates in its various editions that the consumption of fruits and vegetables remains stable and below the recommendations of at least five servings a day.

Only 6% consume the recommended five servings of fruits or vegetables. Regarding sugar consumption, our country is among the fourth highest sugar consumption in the world, according to the 4th Survey of Cardiovascular Risk Factors of the Ministry of Health 2018. Sugary drinks account for approximately 40% of this consumption.

Meanwhile, salt consumption in our country is around 11 grams per day, while the WHO recommendation is up to 5 grams per day. Obesity can lead to metabolic complications, such as increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increased blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, sleep disorders, osteoarticular disorders, Frechtel says.

According to the 2018 National Survey of Risk Factors, the prevalence of self-reported excess weight was higher in men (68.5%) than in women (55%). The self-report of obesity determined that 1 in 4 Argentines is obese.

Healthy habits that can help prevention include:

-Make four intakes per day, including various foods: cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, white and red meat, olive oil

-Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water

- Adecuado descanso nocturno

- Take daily walks of 20/30 minutes in open places and for recreational purposes

To deepen prevention, the Hospital de Clínicas of the City of Buenos Aires, will carry out a free campaign for the detection and treatment of eating disorders from March 28 to April 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Obesity Week is a free campaign open to the public in which diagnostic studies, workshops and guidance talks can be carried out.

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