* Image: Pixabay
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Republican People's Party (CHP) Vice Chair and İstanbul MP Gamze Akkuş-İlgezdi, also a physician herself, has released a report on obesity in Turkey.
The report of Akkuş-İlgezdi has shown that the rate of obesity among the ones aged 15 and over has increased by 38.9 percent since 2008. According to the figures shared by the MP, 21.1 percent of Turkey's population over the age of 15 was obese in the year 2019.
Considered by age groups, the highest rate of obesity was recorded among the ones aged between 55 and 64, the MP has noted.
CLICK - TurkStat Survey: 21 Percent of Turkey is Obese
Commenting on the report, Akkuş-İlgezdi has said, "The fact that the due consideration is not given to protective and preventive healthcare services in Turkey is made visible thanks to the rise in obesity."
* Gamze Akkuş-İlgezdi / Photo: AA
Those with normal weight on the decrease
According to the report, while obesity has been on the increase in the country, the rate of individuals with normal weight has decreased.
While 48.2 percent of Turkey's population had normal weight in 2008, this rate dropped by 16.8 percent in 11 years. The figures shared in the report have shown that 40.1 percent had normal weight in Turkey in 2019.
"While the rate of obesity has been increasing considerably, the average weight also keeps increasing in all age groups year by year," Akkuş-İlgezdi has warned further. "While the average weight was 70.8 kilograms in 2008, it increased to 73.5 in 2019," she has noted.
Obesity rates | ||||||
Years | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2019 |
Obesity rates (%) | 15.2 | 16.9 | 17.2 | 19.9 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
Body mass index rates (%) | ||||||
Years | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2019 |
Underweight | 4.2 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
With normal weight | 48.2 | 45.5 | 44.2 | 42.2 | 42.1 | 40.1 |
Pre-obese | 34.4 | 33.0 | 34.8 | 33.7 | 34.3 | 35.0 |
Obese | 15.2 | 16.9 | 17.2 | 19.9 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
Average weight (kilo) by age groups | ||||||
Age groups / years | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2019 |
Total | 70.8 | 71.5 | 72.3 | 72.5 | 72.8 | 73.5 |
15-24 | 62.0 | 62.3 | 63.2 | 63.2 | 63.6 | 64.6 |
25-34 | 69.9 | 70.5 | 71.1 | 71.1 | 71.1 | 71.9 |
35-44 | 74.8 | 75.8 | 76.2 | 75.9 | 76.2 | 76.4 |
45-54 | 76.4 | 77.5 | 77.7 | 79.0 | 78.2 | 78.7 |
55-64 | 75.9 | 76.8 | 77.5 | 77.8 | 78.4 | 77.9 |
65-74 | 74.2 | 74.0 | 74.6 | 73.7 | 75.3 | 76.2 |
75+ | 67.5 | 68.6 | 69.1 | 69.1 | 69.6 | 70.1 |
'Protective health service is a guarantee'
Against the background of above statistics and observations, Akkuş-İlgezdi has underlined that preventive health services prevent the possible onset of diseases, thereby functioning as a guarantee for public health.
She has also briefly stated the following:
"According to the Population and Health of Turkey 2018 Study of Hacettepe University, only 8 percent of children younger than six are overweight. Obesity has hit 21.1 percent due to dietary habits after the age of five.
"It is a consequence of the fact that public health centers are not given due consideration, trainings on obesity are not provided and not a sufficient number of nutrition and dietary experts are employed.
'There should be lessons on nutrition'
"The Ministries of National Education and Health need to work to find a permanent solution for a training on nutrition. In the current situation, nutrition trainings are provided in particular places and to a limited extent.
"Students in several schools in our country never receive any courses on nutrition throughout their school life. The two ministries need to ensure that courses on a balanced and healthy nutrition are provided from the first school year till university." (TP/SD)
