Excess Weight – An Epidemic of Our Times: How to Reverse the Negative Trend

Obesity is not just an aesthetic problem, but a socially significant disease that affects millions of people around the world. In Russia, roughly 25% of the adult population is obese. Poor eating habits, a key risk factor for obesity, begin to develop in childhood due to the aggressive marketing of products with a high content of sugar, salt, and trans fats. This makes the problem of obesity an important social issue that affects the economic well-being of the state and the health of the nation. The effectiveness of the fight against obesity directly depends on each person’s personal desire and responsibility, since individuals are the ones who determine their lifestyle and food preferences. Obese patients need specialized treatment – a comprehensive examination, individual weight loss programmes and drug support, as well as rehabilitation measures. And even though the pharmaceutical market, including Russian manufacturers, currently offers effective weight loss drugs, pharmacotherapy itself does not solve the problem of excess weight and can only work in combination with the patient’s commitment to the principles of a healthy lifestyle. Why has obesity become the epidemic of the 21st century? How does the problem of excess weight affect a country’s demographics? How does state support contribute to the availability of therapy for patients? What role does proper nutrition, a commitment to sports, and a healthy lifestyle play in the fight against obesity? How can a commitment to these principles be made a social convention?