Obesity outranks malnutrition ahead of undernourishment as a global epidemic, threatening healthcare systems worldwide.
"Globesity" is a new term that marks our generation, and reflects a worldwide epidemic that is out of control.
Obesity now outranks malnutrition worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the WHO, of the world’s six billion people, one billion are overweight, compared to 800 million people who are undernourished. This epidemic is not restricted to developed countries as it is estimated that 33% of women and 25% percent men on the continent of Africa are overweight, and these percentages are predicted to rise to 41 % and 30 % respectively, over the next decade.
Diabetes is closely related to obesity, with 9 in 10 American diabetics being obese. Because these epidemics stem from the modern lifestyle, diet and food supply infrastructure, they are jeopardizing health care systems worldwide. Adoption of a low glycemic diet and lifestyle is recommended as a primary strategy by scientists and health policy experts to stem(?) these dual epidemics that comprise "Diabesity", another new term that evidences the interlinked relationship between obesity and diabetes.
According to Technology Watch, a publication sponsored by the National Research Council of Canada, "The World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Office (FAO) of the United Nations stated that globally, overweight populations are a bigger problem than undernourishment, and recommended people in industrialized countries base their diets on low glycemic (GI) foods to prevent most of the common diseases of affluence." [Technology Watch: The Glycemic Index (V2, Issue 3); Food and Agriculture Organization, 1997. The role of the glycemic index in food choice. IN: Carbohydrates in Human Nutrition: Report of joint FAO/WHO expert Consultation, Rome, April 1997. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome FAO 1998 Commission.
Many countries are implementing Low GI initiatives in an effort to address the growing epidemics of obesity and diabetes head on. For example, the Government of Australia has developed The Glycemic Index (GI) Symbol Program as a joint public health initiative of the Government of Australia, Diabetes Australia and The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Australia. The program enables consumers to make low GI food choices with the use of a special low GI symbol that appears on food packaging of accredited products that have been Low GI tested by an accredited laboratory. In Canada, Glycemic Index Laboratories, is a laboratory that tests and clinically validates the GI of food products such as Solo GI™ Low Glycemic Nutrition Bars.
Don’t be a statistic! Take action today to learn more about the Glycemic Index (GI) so that you and your family can benefit from making low GI food choices and live a healthier low glycemic lifestyle.
Visit my Low Glycemic Blog every day as I am dedicated to provide you with information to help you make small changes over time that will have a dramatic impact on your energy level, with your weight management and overall health and well being.
Low Glycemic Index (GI) and Low Glycemic Load (GL) foods have been proven in studies to be beneficial: dieting; weight loss; obesity; diabetes; balancing blood sugar; sustained energy; sport nutrition; mental performance; acne; eye health; macular degeneration; heart disease and forms of cancer. See also Low GI Diet, Low GI Recipes, Low GI Food, Low GI Eating.
Copyright 2008, Saul Katz
Comments