Obesity - a preventable disease

Obesity is a common and preventable disease of clinical and public health importance. It is often a major risk factor for the development of several non-communicable diseases, significant disability and premature death. There is presently a global epidemic of obesity in all age groups and in both developed and developing countries. The increasing prevalence of obesity places a large burden on health care use and costs. Weight loss is associated with significant health and economic benefits. Effective weight loss strategies include dietary therapy, physical activity and lifestyle modification. Drug therapy is reserved for obese or overweight patients who have concomitant obesity-related risk factors or diseases. Population-wide prevention programmes have a greater potential of stemming the obesity epidemic and being more cost-effective than clinic-based weight-loss programmes. Ghana is going through an economic and nutrition transition and experiencing an increase in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related illnesses, especially among women and urban dwellers. A national taskforce to address this epidemic and to draw up a national policy on related non-communicable diseases is urgently needed.