Adult obesity may rise to 60-80% of the population in Western Countries by 2050, said Philip James from the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF), speaking at an Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) conference this week. It is also predicted that half of the world's population will develop type 2 diabetes in early/mid adulthood by 2050.
Adult obesity may rise to 60-80% of the population in Western Countries by
2050, said Philip James from the International
Obesity Taskforce (IOTF), speaking at an Association
for the Study of Obesity (ASO) conference this week. It is also predicted
that half of the world's population will develop type 2 diabetes in early/mid
adulthood by 2050.
The ASO conference titled 'Diabesity
- Vision or Nightmare by 2050?' was held this week at the Institute
of Child Health, London, UK. The conference gathered together nutritionists,
nurses, students, dieticians, scientists, psychiatrists, psychologists,
consultant physicians and doctors to discuss the problem of obesity related
diabetes.
Philip James, from the IOTF, presented demographic projections of diabesity
from now until 2050. He described a "doomsday scenario" where adult
obesity rates would rise to 60-80% in the Westernised population, and that half
of the world's population in 2050 will develop type 2 diabetes.
John Wilding,
from the University of Liverpool, who
presented on the mechanism of linking obesity and diabetes, highlighted that in
1958 obesity was uncommon in the UK, with 1-2% of the population classed obese.
This figure in 2004 has increased to 20% of the population, with approximately
3% with diabetes. He noted that there is clear evidence from intervention trials
that modest weight loss and increased physical activity can prevent or delay the
onset of diabetes in subjects at risk.
Paul Quinlan, from Unilever
Health Institute, The Netherlands, gave a presentation from the food
manufacturers point of view. He highlighted the main food strategies for
preventing obesity/diabetes. The first strategy was to develop more "weight
friendly" mainstream products, second diet products to enhance weight loss,
and third "wellness" products that can help treat co-morbidites. He
suggested that the development of new functional food technologies or
ingredients to prevent/treat obesity are likely in the coming years, with
strategies to control food intake likely to be more successful than enhancing
metabolism.
The overall conclusion was that there was no doubt that obesity rates were
increasing which will significantly affect the rates of diabetes. Nick Wareham,
Head of the MRC
Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge, indicated that the genetics of obesity are
complex, however maybe a potential target for prevention. Jack Winkler from Food
& Health Research, London, urged for a change in food policy. He noted that
the increase in diabetes will have an extreme effect on health care financing.
Contact: The Association for the Study of Obesity.
URL: www.aso.org.uk