Two out of five Poles notice overweight people around them. However, the problem is much bigger.

Obesity is a chronic disease characterised by excessive accumulation of fat tissue. In adults, obesity is diagnosed by measuring a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m². Overweight – a condition in which special attention should be paid to nutrition and physical activity – is diagnosed with a BMI of 25–29.9 kg/m², because over time it may turn into obesity.

Currently, about 2.6 billion people in the world, or 38% of population, is overweight or obese. If the upward trend is maintained, over the next 12 years this number will increase to four billion, or 51%. According to the latest WHO report on obesity in Europe, 60% of Europeans suffer from overweight and obesity. In Poland, 58% of adults are overweight, and 23% struggle with obesity. It is estimated that the treatment of obesity in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries consumes approximately 3.3% of GDP. According to the MultiSport Index survey, the problem is therefore significant, and public awareness of this issue is still insufficient. For example, only 40% of people notice overweight in their environment.

The main cause of overweight and obesity is a positive energy balance in the form of too many calories consumed and lack or too little physical activity. According to the MultiSport Index survey, 52% of Poles do not undertake any physical activity, even once a week. The increase in obesity in society is also influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, passive forms of recreation and processed food, which – as shown by research conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease in the USA – stimulates appetite more than unprocessed food.

Excessive fat tissue has many negative health consequences, including increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or stroke. Coronary heart disease is diagnosed in over 40% of obese people. According to National Health Fund data, compared to people with normal body weight, obese people are 1.5 times more likely to develop this disease. Obesity also often leads to degenerative diseases of the joints, resulting from excessive load on them and, consequently, damages the joint surfaces.

– A sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise are a shameful sign of our times. According to OECD calculations, obesity is responsible for 70% of diabetes treatment costs, 23% of cardiovascular diseases treatment costs and 9% of cancer treatment costs. To counteract this phenomenon, it is worth introducing good habits in everyday life, which will bring significant health benefits over time. Physical activity should be a permanent, non-negotiable element of the weekly schedule. In addition to sports, it is also necessary to find time for the so-called spontaneous activity during the day. As a society, we should finally understand that in times when technology has artificially deprived us of the recommended daily dose of exercise, it is our duty to supplement it through consciously planned physical activity. It is worth remembering that exercise is an effective prevention of lifestyle diseases and is a condition for maintaining good physical condition and mental balance – emphasises Dr. Ernest Kuchar, specialist in sports medicine and infectious diseases from the Medical University of Warsaw.

Physical activity is important in preventing diabetes. According to the National Health Fund data, approximately 3 million people in Poland suffer from this disease. It is predicted that by 2030, one in ten Poles will struggle with it.

– As with any disease, prevention is better than cure. In the case of type 2 diabetes, the best prevention is maintaining proper body weight and – I repeat – regular physical activity. Reducing excessive body weight can therefore save the patient from a dangerous disease in the future – adds Dr. Ernest Kuchar.

Overweight and obesity have a huge impact not only on physical health, but also on the well-being of Poles. As noted by Prof. Ernest Kuchar, an important aspect of the correlation between excess body weight and mental health is the fact that obesity may be both a source of mood disorders and their effect.

– In this context, it is worth paying attention to the synergistic positive effect of physical activity, which not only helps in the fight against excess weight, but also serves as an antidepressant. By influencing the neurochemical balance in the brain, physical exercise can significantly improve our mood and counteract negative emotions, while also supporting the weight loss process. This is confirmed by the results from the MultiSport Index 2023 report, according to which as many as 95% of physically active Poles claim that regular physical activity has a positive effect on their well-being, while 89% of respondents confirm that exercise reduces stress and bad emotions. This approach to health, combining care for one’s physical condition with care for one’s mental state, is crucial in effectively solving problems related to obesity – sums up Dr. Ernest Kuchar.