Weighty problem grows in the West
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 18, 2009 00:00
KUŞADASI - One of the most serious issues of our times, obesity is proved to be a problem in the Aegean region as well. According to the research of a local diabetes specialist, the rate of obese people in the region is growing
It may be famous for healthy meals rich in vegetables and olive oil, but the Aegean region is not immune to one of the most serious health issues of our times.
According to the research of a local diabetes specialist, the rate of overweight and obese people in Aegean region of Turkey has reached as high as 80 percent in some areas.
The research was conducted by the founder of İzmir’s Turkish Diabetes Society, Diabetes Hospital and Diabetes Center, Dr. Ali Alkış, in many cities and districts along the Aegean coast.
Alkış concluded that while the majority was either overweight or obese, almost half of them suffered from related conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. In İzmir, 17.2 percent of the population have been diagnosed with diabetes and 37.8 percent suffer hypertension.
İzmir’s overall rates of obesity was 80.9 percent, followed by Bodrum with 77.3 percent of the population either overweight or obese.Manisa’s Alaşehir district is near the top in terms of the diabetes and hypertension sufferers, with 42.4 percent and 44.9 percent respectively.
The most interesting figures come out of Uşak, where the rate of obesity is four times lower than in İzmir, at 20.4 percent. Only 17.4 percent suffer hypertension while a further 19.2 percent have diabetes.
’Really disturbing’
Giving examples from Kuşadası, Alkış said: "There is almost no healthy person over the age of 20. This is really disturbing for the future. 82 percent of society is comprised of obese people. What is tragic is, on the other hand, that although 45 percent have hypertension and 30 percent have diabetes, they are not aware of this. The data obtained from the survey in Kuşadası is quite similar to those in the other districts of the Aegean region."
Highlighting that the outcomes of the survey conducted in the Aegean region were also parallel to the outcomes of several other surveys conducted across Turkey, Alkış also noted that the trio of diabetes, hypertension and obesity was endemic in Turkish society.
Early ages
"More and more people are getting diabetes at very early ages today. These illnesses basically derive from the lack of activity and malnutrition. Moreover, the lack of effective diabetes education outside the big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, also contributes to this problem," Alkış said.
Alkış also noted that developed countries prepared programs to fight diabetes, hypertension and obesity. These countries also work toward preventing these diseases and a reduction in treatment costs.
"Unfortunately, Turkey is behind in taking such precautions," Alkış said. "We lose time by trying to cure the illnesses instead of taking protective measures from the beginning."
"While the budget allocated to preventive medicine is decreasing constantly, the cost of treatment medicine has reached such high levels that they have begun to seriously shake up the state budget," he added.
The suggestions Alkış to counter the trend included a more active life, playing sports, using cars less, avoid eating while watching TV, sitting at the computer, and to avoid fast-food in general.
According to the research of a local diabetes specialist, the rate of overweight and obese people in Aegean region of Turkey has reached as high as 80 percent in some areas.
The research was conducted by the founder of İzmir’s Turkish Diabetes Society, Diabetes Hospital and Diabetes Center, Dr. Ali Alkış, in many cities and districts along the Aegean coast.
Alkış concluded that while the majority was either overweight or obese, almost half of them suffered from related conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. In İzmir, 17.2 percent of the population have been diagnosed with diabetes and 37.8 percent suffer hypertension.
İzmir’s overall rates of obesity was 80.9 percent, followed by Bodrum with 77.3 percent of the population either overweight or obese.Manisa’s Alaşehir district is near the top in terms of the diabetes and hypertension sufferers, with 42.4 percent and 44.9 percent respectively.
The most interesting figures come out of Uşak, where the rate of obesity is four times lower than in İzmir, at 20.4 percent. Only 17.4 percent suffer hypertension while a further 19.2 percent have diabetes.
’Really disturbing’
Giving examples from Kuşadası, Alkış said: "There is almost no healthy person over the age of 20. This is really disturbing for the future. 82 percent of society is comprised of obese people. What is tragic is, on the other hand, that although 45 percent have hypertension and 30 percent have diabetes, they are not aware of this. The data obtained from the survey in Kuşadası is quite similar to those in the other districts of the Aegean region."
Highlighting that the outcomes of the survey conducted in the Aegean region were also parallel to the outcomes of several other surveys conducted across Turkey, Alkış also noted that the trio of diabetes, hypertension and obesity was endemic in Turkish society.
Early ages
"More and more people are getting diabetes at very early ages today. These illnesses basically derive from the lack of activity and malnutrition. Moreover, the lack of effective diabetes education outside the big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, also contributes to this problem," Alkış said.
Alkış also noted that developed countries prepared programs to fight diabetes, hypertension and obesity. These countries also work toward preventing these diseases and a reduction in treatment costs.
"Unfortunately, Turkey is behind in taking such precautions," Alkış said. "We lose time by trying to cure the illnesses instead of taking protective measures from the beginning."
"While the budget allocated to preventive medicine is decreasing constantly, the cost of treatment medicine has reached such high levels that they have begun to seriously shake up the state budget," he added.
The suggestions Alkış to counter the trend included a more active life, playing sports, using cars less, avoid eating while watching TV, sitting at the computer, and to avoid fast-food in general.