World Obesity Day (WOD) is an annual event that takes place on March 4th to raise awareness of obesity and encourage action to address it. By treating obesity with both lifestyle and nutrition strategies using holistic, multi-disciplinary teams, we can successfully reduce the rate of obesity in South Africa.
Multiple studies suggest that a focus on weight alone as a health criterion is often unsuccessful. In a study comparing the HAES (Health At Every Size) model to a restrictive diet approach, the restrictive dieters regained their weight after two years and lost the health improvements, while the HAES group sustained their health improvements being metabolic fitness, activity levels, psychological measures and eating behaviours.
Several studies have found that 81% of 10-year-olds admit to dieting, binge eating or a fear of getting fat. Research has shown that children copy the eating behaviour patterns of their parents. By respecting the diversity of body shapes and size, we can approach health and well-being from a multi-dimensional way including physical, emotional, occupational and intellectual aspects.
Creating long-term change in eating behaviour is more effective than restrictive dieting. Without the burden of weight stigma, we can lead patients on a path toward recovery and ultimately change the eating and lifestyle behaviours of the next generation. Balanced eating, accountability and positivity around food and physical activity have been shown to produce long-term healthy changes in these patients.