Obesity in Chile!

Hello everybody! Today my post is about obesity, the health problem of this millennium.

Well, Chile has been in a transition process related with nutrition; because thirty or fourty years ago the main health issue was poor nutrition. However, actually the problem is obesity in all age ranges. The pattern of obesity in Chile corresponds to develop country, as United States of America; for example the 18% of chilean children and the 16% of american children are obese. Now this percentages are not better in adult population, because the 22% of chilean adult are obese, the 38% of adult and 52% of chilean pregnant women have overweight (data from: Encuesta Nacional de Salud, 2003). This situation is really alarming, because in the world more than one thousand million are obese and of this three hundred million have overweight (data from: OMS).
Causes of Obesity in Chile: In the last decades increased monetary income, this allowed that people accede easily to food in quantity and the kind; for example: The chilean population consume more soda, junk food (hot dog, burgers, chips, pizza, etc.), more fatty meats, etc. and less fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, water, etc. Furthemore more of 90% of chilean people is sedentary. In Chile was implemented "Global Strategy Against Obesity", it search encourage healthy diet and to promote physical activity and monitor the mandatory nutrition labeling of food.

In my personal view I think that the change to healthy lifestyles is difficult, but is not imposible!!

I hope that you enjoy my post, because is a topic very important especially as a future health professionals!

See you in class, regards