KUWAIT CITY, Aug 22: Director of the Health Promotion Department at the Ministry of Health Dr. Abeer Al-Baho Thursday morning launched an annual campaign to raise awareness about chronic non-communicable diseases, as part of the Ministry of Health’s sustainable development plan to combat chronic diseases and raise awareness about the risk factors that cause them, most notably physical inactivity, smoking and obesity.

In a press statement issued on Thursday during the event, Dr. Al- Baho warned about a significant increase in the risk factors that cause chronic diseases in Kuwait. She explained that the Nutritional Surveillance Program from the Ministry of Health’s Nutrition and Feeding Department revealed that the prevalence of smoking rates is approximately 42.6 percent among men and 2.9 percent among women. Physical inactivity affects 39 percent of the population, and obesity impacts around 43.7 percent of adults over the age of 19 According to research conducted in this regard, obesity is a prevalent health issue among adolescents and adults globally, largely due to poor eating habits, especially the consumption of fast food, insufficient physical activity, and reluctance to exercise. Statistics issued by the World Health Organization revealed that approximately 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight, and more than 600 million are classified as obese.

The research identifies several primary factors contributing to obesity. Beyond overeating and physical inactivity, psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders play a huge role in this regard. Genetic factors are also significant, with familial obesity increasing the likelihood of children becoming obese by 25 percent to 30 percent.

Endocrine dysfunction accounts for five percent to six percent of obesity cases, including conditions such as tumors of the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, and pancreatic disorders. These conditions can lead to Type 2 diabetes due to the body’s cells developing insulin resistance.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff