CYPRUS IN THE GRIP OF OBESITY - 75% OF THE PROBLEM IS GENETIC - WE HAVE KNOWN THE PROBLEM SINCE 2015 BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING - Filenews 27/3 by Marilena Panayi
The noose of obesity in Cyprus is tightening with the problem being attributed by 75% to genetic reasons and research showing that four out of ten children and three out of ten adults are obese.
Cypriot scientists warn that based on international research, these rates will triple over twenty years and call for the immediate recognition of obesity as a chronic disease in practice.
At the same time, they blame the Ministry of Health, arguing that "Cyprus, since 2015, holds the first place among international surveillance in which 38 countries participate, but in essence it has not proceeded to promote specific specialized actions to stop the problem".
Since a problem is 75% genetic, it must be treated in the same way as any other inherited condition, they emphasize.
Already, they emphasize, the rates of diseases that are somehow related to obesity, improper nutrition and inadequate physical exercise in Cyprus, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, are very high and point out that "we must provide obese patients with organized and specialized care and first of all we must recognize them as real patients".
"What we are asking for is the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease, as it is recognized by the World Health Organization," said the members of the Cyprus Society for the Study of Obesity, presenting the problem to the parliamentary committee on Health. Since, they said, obesity is due to genetic reasons, the need for specialized and comprehensive management "is huge".
At the same time, obesity can be due to other reasons: Psychological, hormonal, orthopaedic, etc., "factors that can be treated, managed or even cured. It must be understood that as a chronic disease, it requires interdisciplinary treatment. Doctors, dieticians, psychologists, maybe even nurses are needed."
Obese children, "as has been shown by studies, are severely bullied and this leads to other problems with serious effects on mental health". Adults "lock themselves in their homes, fall into depression, develop various syndromes and certainly diseases related to the complications of obesity".
Back to confrontation, prejudice and perceptions
"Especially when a problem is genetic, the person alone cannot manage his condition. We must first convince this patient that he is not to blame because he is trying, losing weight and then the weight returns, it must be understood that obesity as a chronic disease needs constant monitoring and treatment."
In Cyprus, "when a person has diabetes and takes his medication regularly and is properly monitored, he does not receive social pressure and all that it entails. An obese person who cannot manage his weight, however, when he receives the injectable drugs, can also be burdened with the responsibility of needing these drugs. This approach is completely wrong."
Answering questions from MPs, the members of the Society stressed that the majority of bariatric surgeries performed in Cyprus are successful. As they characteristically mentioned, in 75% of these operations there are no complications afterwards. "The perception that exists is a myth and misinformation, because it is simply that only cases that do not have a good outcome come to light," they said.
The real rates of obesity in Cyprus
As mentioned during yesterday's meeting, Cyprus has very high rates of adult obesity reaching up to 30% of the population.
"Much more serious and very worrying is the situation of childhood obesity which, according to the World Health Organization's surveillance study, Cyprus consistently has the highest position in childhood obesity among 38 countries with rates of up to 42%."
It is known, at the same time, that 80% of obese children will become obese adults and at least half will be adults with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer.
Request for Cyprus to follow in Greece's footsteps
The scientists of KEMEPA submitted a memorandum to the Parliament with their demands, stressing the huge need for the creation of an integrated strategy and specialized management of obesity in Cyprus as well. "The creation of a national agency for nutrition, exercise and prevention of obesity is our most important goal, an institution that exists in all European countries aiming at the quality of life of citizens."
In Greece, they state in their memorandum, "with funds from the European Union, a large network of actions has been created that implement it with effective treatment. The Hellenic Society of Obesity leads the action "Action of obesity" with state sponsorship with the continuous aim of training and actions for the solution, as well as the support of people who are obese and fighting for their treatment".
The demands of the KEMEPA scientists, of course, include the recognition of obesity as a disease "with facilitation in the health sectors to deal with it". That is, as they explained, to make it easier for patients, through the General Health System, to deal with their problem, "either by securing medicines or by other facilities".
At the same time, they propose the creation of a "specialized obesity center consisting of doctors, dietitians specialized in obesity management, psychologists specialized in eating disorders and surgeons for bariatric surgeries. They should all be housed together in one center so that there is a comprehensive assessment and a holistic approach."
The scientists also asked for the support of the Parliament in order to secure "financial resources, possibly from state sponsorship, to implement a program, similar to the one implemented in Greece, mainly to support children".
The Health Committee committed to send a letter to the Ministry of Health informing about the meeting with the representatives of the scientific society and asking for the immediate promotion of the appropriate procedures.
