The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that since 1975, the world obesity rate has nearly tripled. Since diabetes has a close link with being obese, the prevalence of both diseases has seen a surge in spike over recent decades.
Despite advancements in medicine and better healthcare facilities, diabetes and obesity remain a leading healthcare concern for communities worldwide. Although they began as a rising issue in high-income countries, they’re now quickly trickling into low-and middle-income countries. More alarmingly, these diseases no longer just manifest in the adult population but are also becoming increasingly common among children and adolescents. Several factors contribute to these changing trends, and knowing and understanding them is the key to eradicating these disorders once and for all.
What are the leading causes?
One of the leading causes of obesity and, consequently, diabetes is an increased intake of foods rich in fats and sugars. Since most people today are obsessed with getting everything done quickly and effortlessly, they put minimal work into preparing their meals. They often rely on fast foods or other junk food they can eat while on the go. While this offers energy boosts, it doesn’t provide any long-term health benefits for the body and eventually starts accumulating as fat.
Additionally, the dominance of electronic devices has significantly reduced physical activity levels among most individuals. So, instead of burning off the excess calories, people sit around and consume more unhealthy snacks, eventually causing diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Why is nutrition education important?
In these pressing times, nutrition education is exceptionally crucial. The public must know how their actions can have drastic consequences, and they must have the tools to mitigate them before it’s too late. Enrolling for a professional degree like a masters in public health online can teach you about obesity, diabetes, and ways to control them. With this knowledge, you can create awareness among larger communities by encouraging schools and other institutes to introduce nutrition education in their curriculums.
Nutrition education aims to teach individuals or groups the importance of healthier choices. While health professionals primarily focus on an individual’s overall health, nutritionists and dieticians concentrate their efforts on eating patterns and dietary habits.
In recent years, nutrition education is finally receiving the attention it deserves as more research starts providing evidence linking food with chronic illnesses. However, significant gaps still exist regarding how much a commoner knows versus how much they should know. Therefore, more communities must encourage relevant authorities to adopt nutrition education programs in their curriculums.
Here are three reasons why you must make teaching nutrition in this era of obesity and diabetes a priority:
1. Promote desirable eating habits
Healthy eating habits are essential for an individual’s well-being. While most people know this, very few comprehend the significance of this statement, and even fewer, give it any importance. The underlying causes of chronic health concerns like obesity and diabetes stem from poor dietary routines. Besides knowing what to eat, when, how, and where are equally essential factors you must address.
For example, skipping breakfast has become common among adults and children in most households. Due to this, individuals are more likely to look for a quick (and often unhealthy) snack later in the day when they feel sudden pangs of hunger. Frozen foods are also gaining popularity since they are easy and quick to use. However, they offer no nutritional value and can harm an individual’s health. Spreading awareness regarding these widespread eating habits and their severe consequences is crucial to reducing obesity and diabetes in your community.
2. Encourage a healthier lifestyle
Nutrition education emphasizes the importance of physical fitness just as much as dietary habits. Most people mistakenly believe that eating healthy is enough for their well-being. But staying active, regularly exercising, and keeping your body in shape all are crucial to maintaining your health. The type and duration of exercise for each individual may vary depending on their age, gender, size, weight, and current health. Learning about these can connect people with relevant professionals such as gym trainers who can help them follow a suitable workout plan or exercise routine.
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading causes of obesity; therefore, you must encourage individuals to adapt to a more active life. Whether it’s in walking, running, swimming, or cycling—do what you enjoy so you can stay committed to it for a more extended period.
3. Reduce the burden on the healthcare sector
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 2 in 5 (42%) adult U.S. citizens have obesity. On the other hand, 11.3% of the entire United States population has diabetes. These are highly alarming statistics. With more patients diagnosed with obesity and diabetes, the healthcare system is getting more overburdened by the day. Since these are chronic illnesses, patients can’t receive overnight treatment and recover in the next few days. Instead, for conditions like diabetes, most patients become dependent on lifetime medications and insulin that cost thousands of dollars.
Research also shows that the impact of obesity and diabetes goes beyond exceeding healthcare costs. It can also reduce the quality of life and increase the cost of living since patients have to change their routine significantly. But if the public receives proper education beforehand, things will never reach this point, and the healthcare system or other sectors won’t get overtaxed.
Opportunities for Nutrition education
You can develop nutrition education programs in various settings to cater to the public. Depending on your audience and the individuals you’re addressing, you can organize them in:
Community kitchens
These are open spaces where community members can gather and share knowledge regarding food, how to prepare it, and the best ways to consume it. People can also share ideas about growing fresh fruits or vegetables. You can also plan group workout sessions encouraging community members to support each other and create a healthier neighborhood.
Classrooms
Teaching kids about nutrition is crucial so they can adopt a healthier lifestyle from a young age. Help students understand the consequences of consuming junk food so they can make better and informed choices as adults. Incorporate fun learning activities like cooking recipes, growing vegetables, and learning about cultural cuisines to encourage their participation.
Conclusion
Incorporating and teaching nutrition as part of the everyday curriculum was always important. But the increasing prevalence of public health concerns like obesity and diabetes make them an even higher priority now. Therefore, you must create programs and help people recognize the importance of nutrition before these diseases completely collapse the healthcare system and further deteriorate well-being.