According to the World Health Organization, the world has been hit by an obesity epidemic. More than a billion earthlings suffer from overweight. The figure for Russia is 70 million, which means that every second Russian has excessive weight.
Fatties are out of favour with most of modern-day society. Today it is fashionable to have a trim figure, to be mobile and an athletic type. Therefore the saying that there should be more of one to love is true of the distant past, not of this day. Employers expressly point out in their job opportunity ads that they expect job-seekers to look fit, not fat.
The degree of the problem's gravity depends on the country. The United States tops the list with the 60% of population having some extra weight, with 30% of Americans suffering from obesity. The World Health Organization says that "areas of concern" are also the UK, some East European and Middle East countries, Australia and China. Italy is also blowing the whistle. The Deputy Rome Mayor has urged that a law should be speedily passed to counter obesity. The number of people suffering from obesity in Italy is growing at breakneck pace, he said, - it would even be safe to speak of a pandemic.
The number of stout Russians has grown by 15% as against the 1980s. According to expert forecasts, in a matter of 10 years the problem of extra weight will prove just as acute in Russia as it is today in the US. The problem doesn't boil down to the fast food fever, says the Director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Nutrition Zainudin Zainudinov, and elaborates.
"The basic obesity-inducing factor is urbanization, says Zainudin Zainudinov. Living conditions in a megalopolis compel people to go on a wrong, unbalanced diet. Anotehr bad thing is naturally physical inactivity. Almost everyone uses cars, with only a few still walking in cities and towns".
Experts believe that obesity should be fought against since one's childhood. Chips and soda water are no longer available at Russian schools. Schoolchildren are instead offered cooked cereals, soups and cutlets, and also fruits and vegetables. Another plan is to boost physical training at schools. Both Russian government and international agencies are involved in the effort to that end, says Zainudin Zainudinov, and elaborates.
"We've got an ad-hoc group in Russia, he says. There are also officials of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Nutrition, comprising WHO expert groups on Russia, who draft documents for the World Health Organization. Two years ago a WHO commission met in Istanbul at the Prime Minister level to decide on moves to decrease the number of fatties".
The Director of the Institute of Nutrition feels that it is important to teach people not to grow overweight, explain to them that fat people should seek expert advice, rather than thoughtlessly consume advertized foods and drinks or turn to charlatans. The expert says he is certain that foods that are detrimental to health should be banned from advertising. Fat people normally suffer from a flurry of diseases. Therefore slenderness is not just about beauty, but also about health.
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