Today is World Obesity Day (March 4), a unified day of action calling for a cohesive, cross-sector response to the obesity crisis.
A health expert has shared the four ways that obesity can be tackled. As per the NHS, fat gain is caused when extra calories, particularly those from foods high in fat and sugar, are stored in the body as fat. Over time, this can cause people to become overweight or obese.
Obesity is an increasingly common problem because many people find the modern world we live in makes it difficult to eat healthily and fit in enough physical activity. Genetics can also be a cause of obesity for some people – your genes can affect how your body uses food and stores fat.
Public perception of obesity can often mean that those who are overweight or obese are just written off as being ‘lazy,’ and a health expert has urged people not to fall into this trap.
So, how can we tackle it? Patrick McClure, health expert and founder of WINIT clinic, shared his thoughts.
Personalised nutrition counselling
Patrick said: “One of the most powerful tools that could help in the treatment of obesity is personalised nutrition counselling. Rather than focusing simply on restrictive dieting, I encourage my patients to embrace sustainable eating habits, prioritising nutrient density but allowing for balance and joy.
“Instead, very small changes can have big ramifications in the long run, such as increasing fibre, decreasing processed foods, or being more conscious of portion sizes. I believe nutrition should be flexible enough to accommodate personal food preferences, cultural habits, and medical conditions so that long-term adherence is guaranteed.”
Physical activity
Patrick shared: “Physical activity is yet another important element in the obesity equation, but the way this gets accomplished is with the personalisation of what is remembered as fun.
“Countless individuals find that classical exercise programs do not apply to them because of limitations, negativity from previous experiences, or lack of motivation. I often suggest starting with less intensive activities such as walking, swimming, or yoga while steadily increasing upon these as their stamina builds.
“This is meant to integrate activity into everyday life in a rewarding way as opposed to a punishing one that would instil self-esteem and consistency.”
Behavioural and psychological support
Patrick said that behavioural and psychological support “form the backbone of all weight management approaches” as “many emotional and mental health factors often come into play in causing obesity.”.
He said: “Many people use food for comfort, calming down, or in alleviating past trauma. I employ cognitive-behavioural strategies to help patients identify their patterns of emotional eating and build a toolkit of healthier mechanisms of coping.
“Counselling, support groups, and interventional mindful eating will provide avenues toward reconnecting with food and the body while reducing that agonising guilt and frustration we so often hear about with weight loss.”
Community and social support
Patrick shared: “Community and social support are often passed over in importance but are absolutely key to sustaining weight loss efforts. Obesity oftentimes causes feelings of loneliness or stigma in individuals, which makes their journey all the more difficult.
“I am always encouraging people to have a large support network with family and friends or structured programs that offer participants accountability and encouragement. Positive reinforcement and motivation coming from this community can definitely tip the scales toward adherence to health goals.”
He encourages empathy from others…
“Empathy needs to accompany the conversations about obesity, as it is not only an issue of willpower or personal choice,” he urged. “Situations contributing to obesity include genetics, metabolism, socioeconomic status, and mental health issues.”
He continued: “Shaming or judging individuals who are always struggling with their weight only exacerbates this situation, leading to stress, emotional eating, and skipping out on help. When treating obesity, I do my best to bring empathy into it so the patients feel heard, understood, and cared for instead of being scolded.”