Alarmingly, the global community has been experiencing a triple burden of malnutrition. While every country addresses the problem of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency, overnutrition also increases. Obesity as defined as the condition of being grossly fat or overweight, can affect the overall health of young adults due to widespread discrimination against overweight/obese in the young that may affect their socialization. People nowadays are very conscious of how they look and how they deliver themselves in public resulting in lower self-esteem that leads to mental issues. However, beyond this, lies a bigger health concern that doesn’t just drain us mentally but also gives us a big toll on our overall health resulting in early cardiovascular conditions and other health issues.
Environment plays a vital role in these concerns. Parents and family of the child should encourage them to have an active lifestyle and practice mindful eating. If left unmonitored, it can develop lifetime conditions commonly identified as non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia (high LDL, low HDL, high triglycerides), type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis that can put the life of the individual at-risk. So, what are the things that should be done to be able to avoid these health conditions?
Practicing a healthy lifestyle is never easy especially if we are used to having a sedentary activity and consumption of high sugar and fatty foods have been a habit. A Nutritionist-Dietitian should always advise as to eating healthy and a variety of foods. But, what really are healthy foods and what exercise should a young adult need to engage in to manage, if not, prevent obesity?
A diet low in simple sugars and a low-fat diet should be practiced. Simple sugars are those coming from sweetened beverages, cakes and pastries, chocolate and desserts which should be limited to only one serving per day. Let say, one square bite of leche flan as a dessert would be enough for a day. For a low-fat diet, limit saturated and avoid trans-fatty acid rich food like margarine, butter, sandwich spread that are processed fats since if consumed excessively, this will result in dyslipidemia and prolonged consumption can lead to blockage of arterial walls and eventually lead to serious health conditions.
The endpoint is, we need to assist, support and advise the youth in their diet and lifestyle activities as they are the future hope of our land. If we can raise healthy youth, we can help save the economy of the Philippines and live a better life ahead for our country. Let us all help together in taking care of our youth and produce a healthy and well-nourished next generation.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar
References:
1. The health effects of overweight and obesity
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
2. Health risk linked to obesity