Warning of a youth obesity epidemic.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of overweight and obesity among adults is 37% and among students is 43%. Obesity is a global epidemic, linked to more than 200 diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

This information was shared at the 2024 Annual Scientific Conference of Gia Dinh People's Hospital, which took place from August 3rd to 8th.

According to Dr. Tran Thi Kim Chi, Head of the Nutrition Department at Gia Dinh People's Hospital, obesity is no longer just an aesthetic issue but a complex disease linked to more than 200 other conditions and complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. In Vietnam, the rate of overweight and obesity is not as high as in some countries in the region, but the rate of increase in obesity is the fastest in Southeast Asia. The results of the 2020 national nutrition survey show that in just 10 years, the rate of overweight and obesity in children has doubled, with Ho Chi Minh City having the highest rate.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of overweight and obesity among adults is 37%, but it rises to 43% among schoolchildren. Statistics from corporate health check-ups show that the rate of overweight and obesity among office workers is over 40%. Meanwhile, this rate is over 20% among university students.

Delegates attending the 2024 Annual Scientific Conference

Obesity in young people is caused by many factors, including unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise.

"Studies have shown that if a child is severely obese, their life expectancy is reduced by up to 50%, while in adults, it is reduced by more than 10 years," shared Dr. Tran Thi Kim Chi.

Dr. Tran Thi Kim Chi emphasized that obesity is a rapidly growing global epidemic, threatening the health of patients and impacting the healthcare and economic systems. The consequences of this epidemic include an increased rate of young people suffering from diseases that would normally only be seen in older adults. Meanwhile, obese children face stunted growth, psychological and physiological impacts, and reduced academic and work productivity.

Treating obesity in young people is a very difficult and challenging "battle." However, clinical studies and practical experience show that consistent, individualized multimodal interventions with a focus on lifestyle changes are effective and feasible.

Annual Scientific Conference 2024

The 2024 Annual Scientific Conference of Gia Dinh People's Hospital attracted over 1,000 delegates with 10 thematic sessions, 4 satellite sessions, and more than 60 scientific reports covering a wide range of in-depth topics in various fields such as: internal medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, hepatobiliary diseases, oncology, anesthesia and resuscitation, nursing, etc. The content of the reports in each specialty, while concise, covered all the issues of concern in clinical practice and offered solutions to optimize all medical resources in patient care.

GIAO LINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/canh-bao-dai-dich-beo-phi-o-nguoi-tre-post752421.html