The world is getting fatter. Obesity has become a global epidemic and societies are getting fatter and fatter as their wealth increases. It is no longer a personal problem but a crisis for countries. Obesity causes chronic illness and mobility problems and many blame the food industry for it.
What is obesity?
The word obesity means the abnormal accumulation of fat. BMI, or Body Mass Index, is generally accepted as the best way to measure weight. A BMI of over 30 is considered obese. Within a generation the simple, traditional, healthy diets of the past have changed in favor of western-style, high fat and factory-made food.
Rocketing levels of obesity are common in newly wealthy countries such as China, India and Brazil. In recent years restaurant chains and fast food outlets have arrived to cash in on the increase in wealth and the need for ready-made meals. Fast food thrives in countries where people are cash rich but time poor.
Countries take control
Some countries have introduced food taxes. In Denmark, there is a tax on food high in fat. In the 1960s when the country became richer people began eating foods containing more fat. Now, for example, butter and cheese are more expensive and sales of butter have gone down by 14 percent. In the United States, many states already collect taxes on soda and other sweetened drinks, as part of anti-obesity efforts. In New York some outlets are tackling portion sizes and banning the sale of extra-large soda drinks.
Food companies want to sell
Problem is that if you say high-fat food is bad for your health, food companies will introduce more low-fat food. In the United States, people have now taken to eating larger amounts of low fat food that can be very high in sugar. Margarine is an example of a highly processed food, which has been intensively marketed as healthier than butter, but butter is a far more natural food and can be eaten healthily in moderation.
Fast food industry competes by offering larger portion sizes. Portion sizes have been rising for some time until the young hardly know what a normal potion size is anymore and need the older generation to tell them. Food companies want to keep selling more and more food in an environment where there is already so much food available.
Obesity causes in the gulf
A recent survey of expatriates in the Gulf showed that they often gained weight after arriving in Gulf countries and according to consumer surveys in the Gulf, the main causes of weight gain are:
Large portion sizes
Excessive amounts of oil in cooking
Cheap fast food around the clock
Snacking on unhealthy snacks
Carbonated or fizzy drinks and colas
Lack of physical activity
What is the solution?
Once we know the causes we can tackle them. Just consider these causes and solutions:
For large portion sizes: Share your food.
For oil in cooking: Use less oil, bake or grill food.
For cheap fast food: Only eat fast food as a weekly treat.
For unhealthy snacks: Substitute factory made snacks by eating fruit, vegetables and nuts.
For drinking carbonated drinks: Make water your main drink of the day.
For lack of physical activity: Take a daily walk and always use the stairs for two floors; buy an exercise bike or join the gym.
Low fat recipe of the week
Avocado and mango salad with cooked prawns
Ingredients: 200g prawns, 10g butter, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 200g lettuce, 1 medium tomato, 1 small avocado, 1 small mango, 2 medium stalks celery, 100g cucumber
1 medium carrot and 2 tbsp. french vinaigrette dressing
Method: In a large frying pan on medium heat, melt the butter; add the prawns and lemon juice. While the prawns are cooking, tear and rinse the lettuce; slice the tomatoes, avocado, mango, celery and cucumber to preference; shred the carrot and toss all the salad ingredients together in a bowl. Once prawns are cooked, take off heat and drain. Arrange salad on plate and drizzle with dressing. Lay the cooked prawns over the salad and enjoy! Perfect for a healthy lunch when served with a bread roll.
Ask Alva
Can you please give me some tips to cut down on my sugar craving? — Fatma
Healthy eating guidelines dictate that you should not have more than 2 portions of sugar a day. A portion is a tablespoon of white sugar, 2 biscuits, 1 slice of cake or 1 small bar of chocolate. Try to put less sugar in tea, or better still, give it up. Don’t sprinkle sugar on cereal — gradually decrease the amount. Choose unsweetened fruit juices. Cut down on sweet snacks by eating fruit instead. — Alva
