There is a monster living among us who is harming and killing us and our loved ones - and almost no one does anything about it.
What kind of monster is this? Lack of exercise and obesity.
▪️Currently, approximately 2.5 billion people are overweight and 0.7 billion are hungry.
Fat, right?
According to WHO:
In 2022 1 in 8 people in the world lived with obesity,
Adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and among teenagers - four times,
In 2022 2.5 billion adults were overweight, of which 890 million were obese,
43% of adults in the world is overweight, a 16% suffer from obesity,
Over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 are overweight, incl 160 million obese.
According to UN data:
In 2025 approx 673 million people will experience hunger.
Let's point it out again: Statistically, there are 3.5 obese people for every hungry person.
▪️Why is this a problem?
Obesity:
shortens life expectancy by on average 5–10 years,
increases the risk hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke,
raises the risk to say the least 13 types of cancer,
responsible for 80-90% of type 2 diabetes cases,
causes joint degeneration, back pain and limited mobility,
reduces the level of physical activity, creating a vicious circle - because the less we move, the more we gain weight, and the more weight we gain, the harder it is for us to move.
And these are only part of the problems.
▪️ What is the cure?
Movement — free and egalitarian. Bill Gates and Elon Musk have to run on the treadmill just like the rest of us.
And they do it because exercise reduces the risk of premature death by about 40% — which is the same as quitting smoking.
▪️So why doesn't anyone exercise?
Throughout history, humanity has been starving, which is why we are drawn to overeating, lying around and doing nothing. It was our nature and survival technique that turned into a dying technique.
Additionally, we distort reality.
In surveys, over 50% of people report doing the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. But when scientists put sensors on them and measure actual movement - this threshold is reached by less than 10% of respondents.
Our activity threshold is set so low in our heads that... a walk to the fridge is starting to be considered "moderate exercise".
▪️What is the solution?
Taking care of yourself and your loved ones. Which, unfortunately, almost no one does today.
Because shopping for cosmetics is not taking care of yourself.
Going to the hairdresser is not taking care of yourself.
Putting on fashionable clothes is not self-care.
Buying gifts isn't caring either.
Taking care means exercise, good nutrition, limiting stimulants, healthy sleep and a rich social life.
Therefore, instead of buying unnecessary things, it is better to try to stretch yourself and your loved ones walk, bike, run, gym, swimming pool or team games. Anything that involves movement.
If someone is important to you, encourage them to move.
In today's world THIS is what real care for yourself and your loved ones is.
What I wish for both you and myself.
P.S. This reflection came to me when I recently read some data and talked to doctors. And since the holidays are approaching, everyone is talking about taking care of their loved ones - but in practice it mainly comes down to loading up on calories and sitting at the table. Absurd, right?
P.S.S. The photo will show me and Ania when we ran a 5 km run together for the first time, which I am extremely proud of.
