Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years

The New England Journal of Medicine

The New England Journal of Medicine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What scientists call "Overweight" ch...

What scientists call “Overweight” changes with our knowledge of human health (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If interested in obesity or being overweight, read the original article from the New England Journal of Medicine — ‘Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years’

Source: Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years — NEJM

Simply being overweight, not necessarily obese – is killing millions of people around the world, according to the world’s largest study on the health effects of being overweight or obese in 195 countries.

Although this is a formal research study, it is highly readable, especially the discussion part. I would strongly encourage reading the most important parts.

The study refers to the growing pandemic of obesity but what is really alarming is the impact from just being overweight.

The social and economic costs are enormous, so why aren’t governments intervening more effectively?

 

UN chief says Diabetes causes 1.5-M deaths a year | mb.com.ph | Philippine News

Logo for the World Diabetes Day

Logo for the World Diabetes Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Age-standardised disability-adjusted life year...

Age-standardised disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates from Diabetes mellitus by country (per 100,000 inhabitants). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Philippine News reports UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying that diabetes now causes some 1.5 million deaths a year and called for healthier lifestyles on this year.

Source: UN chief says Diabetes causes 1.5-M deaths a year | mb.com.ph | Philippine News

Surely, we need much more than World Diabetes Day?

I am increasingly disillusioned by the effectiveness of the whole UN bureaucracy. It’s perhaps time to do a comprehensive cost benefit analysis and look to reforms? There are too many lobbies promoting vested interests and big decisions are blocked in the Security Council. It’s a very expensive debating chamber.

Let’s face it, a large part of the Diabetes crisis crisis is caused by Western food and drinks companies aggressively marketing addictive junk food and sugar products. See the Times of India article reporting on the introduction of a sugar tax.

Perhaps it’s time for Ban Ki-moon to step down and make way for a more robust leader?