World Obesity Day

March 4

World Obesity Day

World Obesity Day was established in 2015. This annual campaign has the goal of stimulating and supporting practical actions that help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It also focuses on reversing the global obesity crisis. March 4 is currently World Obesity Day. October 11 was the previous date of observation. On March 4, in addition to celebrating the day, we wear the yellow ribbon.

World Obesity Federation changed the date of the International Day Against Obesity from October 11 to March 4 in 2020. The reason for this was to unite globally on this day. The objective of the day, in addition to raising awareness, is to provide the opportunity to shed sufficient light on this disease in proportion to the health risks arising from it.

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than two billion people in the world. In addition, it is a very important risk factor for many chronic diseases. For example, obesity is one of the biggest health problems in the world. It is also a stigma in the modern world. For this reason, addressing this disease requires social responsibility that includes radical solutions in terms of prevention, treatment, and attention to a healthy lifestyle.

World Obesity Day aims to increase awareness, encourage advocacy, improve policies, and share experiences. The campaign to raise awareness reached over six million people in 2016. Then, another eight million in 2017. From there, over ten million in 2018. In 2019, World Obesity Day changed from October 11 to October 4. The new World Obesity Day date of March 4 began in 2020. In 2021, the campaign reached over six billion people.

Obesity Facts:

Being overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
More than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, and over 650 million were obese in 2016.
More than 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2013.
Being overweight and obesity kill more people than those who are underweight.
The fundamental cause of obesity is an energy imbalance. The imbalance is between calories consumed and calories expended.
Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices and protecting them from being overweight and obese.
Children’s choices, diets, and physical activity habits are influenced by their surrounding environment.
Adopting a healthy diet can prevent obesity.
Regular physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight.
Reversing the global obesity epidemic requires a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary population approach that considers prevailing cultural features

Objectives of World Obesity Day:

Raising health awareness among community members on causes and risks of obesity, and ways of prevention.
Raising health awareness of the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging early detection of obesity. In addition, to reduce its prevalence.
Highlighting the importance of taking preventive measures to combat obesity, by inviting relevant authorities to speak about this important topic. And, to cooperate and contribute to finding solutions to eliminate obesity.
Inviting and encouraging experts and business sectors to make efforts and help consumers change an unhealthy lifestyle.