Original Research: The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with lifestyle

In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than one billion people worldwide were overweight [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2], and that more than 300 million were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). The global increase in excessive weight can be directly attributed to changes in dietary habits and increasing levels of physical inactivity. Only 10 risk factors, of which the leading five are hypertension, tobacco smoking, elevated blood glucose levels, inactivity and excessive weight (overweight and obesity), are responsible for 33% of deaths worldwide. These risk factors are closely associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, ischaemic cerebral incidents, type 2 diabetes mellitus and certain malignancies.1 In patients suffering from obesity, risk factors such as high blood pressure, hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes mellitus are more difficult to control in persons Abstract