OVERWEIGHT IN COLOMBIA

According to Dario Escobar, president of FUNCOBES (Fundacion colombiana de

obesidad) 51.2% of Colombian people are overweight or obese, and 1 of
every 6 children and teenagers has one of those conditions. These
problems are mostly the consequence of alimentary bad habits,
malnutrition, a lack of exercise and sedentary habits. Overweight and
obesity are becoming mayor rising health problems that are affecting more
and more people in Colombia, even the youngest ones.

In a recent research published last month by PAHO (Pan American Health

Organization) around 360 million people in Latin America are overweight or
obese. This represents the 58% of entire Latin American population. In
Colombia, more than 50% of the people are overweight, and this is a
consequence of alimentary bad habits: some people skip breakfast; some
of them tend to postpone it, and its a common mistake to think skipping
breakfast (or another meal) is a way not to gain weight. In addition, an
article on El Pais (a Colombian newspaper) has shown that places like
Bogota and Antioquia are the regions where people dont tend to skip
breakfast, because this is supposed to be the most important meal of the
day. Also in these regions people are more worried about their physical
appearance and tend to exercise frequently, being the complete lack of this
another important cause of overweight raising rates. Besides, doctors
recommend to exercise at least 150 minutes per week, have a balanced
diet (eat plenty of vegetables and fruit and dont exceed on carbs, for
example) and visit your doctor regularly for a checkup.

By the way, the last-known poll about nutritional condition made in Colombia has
shown an increase of overweight rates: according to ENSIN 2010
(Encuesta Nacional de la Situacion Nutricional en Colombia) overweight in
the country affected 45.9% of all population in 2005; however, by 2010 this
condition affected 51.2% of Colombian people. The regions in which
people are more overweight or obese are: San Andres (65%), Guaviare
(62.1%), Guainia (58.9%), Caqueta (58.8%) y Vichada (58.4%).
Particularly, this is a consequence of bad alimentary habits that tend to
 transmit over generations in our communities. For instance, if a baby is
born and raised within a community with a high consumption of fats, sugar,
or junk food, that baby has a lot of chances to become overweight or even
worse, obese, during his childhood. According to FUNCOBES, 10% of all
overweight population in Colombia are children younger than five. The
higher the educational level of the mother, the higher the monetary
capacity to buy junk food said Dr. Irene de la Pea (from Clinica
Colombiana de la Obesidad). Finally, Colombian mothers think if kids are
chubby, they are healthier than the skinny ones, and commonly this
mistake promotes alimentary wrong habits.

More importantly, in Mexico, where overweight rates are growing fast (64% of its
population have this condition) government have implanted plans to reduce
the constant increase of children obesity. For instance, junk food is banned
in schools and there are higher taxes on soft drinks. Colombia needs to try
to be more aggressive in the fight against overweight because advertising
is decisive in the formation of alimentary wrong habits between the kids.
Latest plans to educate Colombian people were food labeling, scholar
nutrition, taxes on soft drinks and alimentary education. Adult people
should be more aware of what their children are eating because is really
important to teach kids into healthy lifestyles. Among mature people the
need of a change of bad nutrition and sedentary habits is the first
challenge. Then people must try to exercise gradually, or walk more often.

As was previously stated, the raising of overweight and obesity in Colombian

society is a worrying problem. There are more and more people that have
this condition and children are affected because of misinformation about
these diseases. The wrong lifestyles have been inherited from our parents
and junk food, fast food and soft drinks aggressive advertising has
worsened the problem. Our governments have tried to educate the people,
but the wrong nutrition habits, sedentary lifestyles and the lack of exercise
in our lives are more like customs and traditions to us. Dont expect help
from others. If you need a change in your life, you have to do it by yourself.