In the battle against obesity, one of the most crucial factors to consider is what we eat. Our dietary choices play a significant role in determining our overall health and weight. With an abundance of food options available, it can be challenging to navigate through the sea of choices and make informed decisions.

When it comes to combating obesity, it's important to focus on consuming a balanced and nutritious diet. This means incorporating a variety of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats into our meals.

These foods provide essential nutrients while keeping us feeling satisfied and energized. It's also essential to be mindful of portion sizes. Overeating, even with healthy foods, can lead to weight gain over time.

Being aware of appropriate serving sizes and practicing mindful eating can help us maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, reducing the consumption of processed foods high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium is crucial for managing obesity. These types of foods often lack nutritional value and contribute to weight gain when consumed in excess.

Incorporating regular physical activity into our daily routine is equally important for managing obesity. Engaging in activities that we enjoy not only helps burn calories but also improves overall fitness levels and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition when it comes to combating obesity, making conscious choices about what we eat can have a significant impact on our weight management journey.

By prioritizing whole foods, practicing portion control, limiting processed food consumption, and staying active, we can take positive steps towards achieving a healthier weight and reducing the risk of obesity-related complications.

One of the primary culprits in promoting obesity is the consumption of highly processed foods. These often contain excessive amounts of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates.

Foods such as sugary drinks, candy, pastries, and fast food should be limited or avoided altogether. Another category to be cautious about is foods high in saturated fats.

These include fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods. Consuming these in excess can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease. Additionally, it's important to be mindful of hidden sugars in various food products. Sweetened beverages like soda or fruit juices may seem harmless but can add up quickly in terms of calorie intake.

Similarly, many packaged snacks and desserts contain hidden sugars that can sabotage our efforts towards maintaining a healthy weight.

Lastly, it's crucial to moderate the consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and white rice. These types of carbohydrates are rapidly digested by the body and can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels if consumed excessively.

Healthy Eating Habits to Prevent and Manage Obesity 2. Breaking Down Ultra-Processed Foods: What Are They, and Why Are They Harmful.

Healthy Eating Habits to Prevent and Manage Obesity By Dr Sowmya Bondalapati Thu, 28 Sep Health topics. Share this:. How does a diet affect obesity? What is the best diet for obesity?

Foods to avoid if you are Obese One of the primary culprits in promoting obesity is the consumption of highly processed foods. Related Blog Articles- 1. Recent Posts.

Respiratory Infections: Types, Prevention, and Treatment Mon, 12 Feb Pros and Cons of Diet Soda Mon, 12 Feb Premenstrual syndrome PMS Mon, 12 Feb Whatever your reason, the goal is a worthy one.

Preventing obesity helps you reduce your risk of a host of associated health issues , from heart disease to diabetes to some cancers and much more.

Like many chronic conditions, obesity is preventable with a healthy lifestyle—staying active, following a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, and so on. The strategies for prevention are also those for treatment if you are already overweight or obese. More and more research is being directed at obesity prevention.

The disease is now a global health epidemic affecting more than million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization WHO.

Obesity can be prevented by following basic principles of healthy eating. Here are simple changes you can make to your eating habits that will help you lose weight and prevent obesity.

Most national and international guidelines recommend that the average adult get at least minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. That means at least 30 minutes per day, five days a week.

The best exercise for maintaining a healthy weight is brisk walking, according to analysis of data from the Health Survey for England. Researchers found that individuals who walk at a brisk or fast pace are more likely to have a lower weight, lower body mass index BMI , and lower waist circumference compared to individuals doing other activities.

In addition, experts recommend keeping active throughout the day, whether by using a standing desk, taking frequent stretch breaks, or finding ways to work in walking meetings throughout your day.

Chronic stress raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol and leads to weight gain. Look into the many healthy ways to beat stress, and find what works best for you. Go for a daily walk, engage in regular yoga or tai chi, meditate, listen to music you love, get together with friends, or do whatever else relaxes you and brings you joy.

Studies show having a pet can lower blood pressure. Additionally, pets, especially dogs, can increase your level of physical activity and help you stave off weight gain. The role of sleep in overall well-being cannot be overstated.

This extends to the goal of preventing obesity, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends seven or more hours of sleep for adults 18 and over, and even more sleep for younger people.

Studies have linked later bedtimes to weight gain over time. In another study, researchers found that late bedtimes, and therefore less nightly sleep, for 4-year-old and 5-year-old children resulted in a greater likelihood of obesity over time.

Specifically, the researchers found that the odds of becoming obese were higher for children who slept less than about 9. or later.

There are several possible contributors to obesity. The fact that the two biggest ones—diet and activity—are ones you can influence is good news. A healthy lifestyle that puts exercise and eating at its center can also bring myriad other health benefits.

If you already are overweight or have obesity, these strategies can also help you lose weight. Although it can be challenging at times, it is a journey well worth taking. There may be an underlying medical condition, such as an endocrine disease or one that causes fluid retention.

There is a connection between childhood obesity and lifelong obesity. If a person is obese at age 5, they are more likely to be obese as an adult.

Obesity is commonly measured using body mass index BMI. A BMI of 30 and above is considered obese, but this is also broken into categories where class I obesity is BMI 30 to less than 35, class II is BMI 35 to less than 40, and class III is 40 or higher.

There is a genetic element related to obesity, but this is one of many risk factors. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. Hall KD, Ayuketah A, Brychta R, et al. Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: an inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake.

Cell Metab. American Heart Association. Sugar Alayón AN, Rivadeneira AP, Herrera C, Guzmán H, Arellano D, Echeverri I. Metabolic and inflammatory postprandial effect of a highly saturated fat meal and its relationship to abdominal obesity.

Lichtenstein AH, Ludwig DS. Bring back home economics education. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity guidelines for Americans. Lordan G, Pakrashi D. How different physical activities differ as predictors of weight.

Risk Anal. Coleman KJ, Rosenberg DE, Conway TL, et al. Physical activity, weight status, and neighborhood characteristics of dog walkers. Prev Med.

In the battle against obesity, one of the most crucial factors to consider is what we eat. Our dietary choices play a significant role in determining our overall health and weight. With an abundance of food options available, it can be challenging to navigate through the sea of choices and make informed decisions.

When it comes to combating obesity, it's important to focus on consuming a balanced and nutritious diet. This means incorporating a variety of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats into our meals.

These foods provide essential nutrients while keeping us feeling satisfied and energized. It's also essential to be mindful of portion sizes. Overeating, even with healthy foods, can lead to weight gain over time.

Being aware of appropriate serving sizes and practicing mindful eating can help us maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, reducing the consumption of processed foods high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium is crucial for managing obesity. These types of foods often lack nutritional value and contribute to weight gain when consumed in excess.

Incorporating regular physical activity into our daily routine is equally important for managing obesity. Engaging in activities that we enjoy not only helps burn calories but also improves overall fitness levels and promotes a healthier lifestyle.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition when it comes to combating obesity, making conscious choices about what we eat can have a significant impact on our weight management journey. By prioritizing whole foods, practicing portion control, limiting processed food consumption, and staying active, we can take positive steps towards achieving a healthier weight and reducing the risk of obesity-related complications.

One of the primary culprits in promoting obesity is the consumption of highly processed foods. These often contain excessive amounts of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and refined carbohydrates.

Foods such as sugary drinks, candy, pastries, and fast food should be limited or avoided altogether. Another category to be cautious about is foods high in saturated fats.

These include fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, and fried foods. Consuming these in excess can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease.

Additionally, it's important to be mindful of hidden sugars in various food products. Sweetened beverages like soda or fruit juices may seem harmless but can add up quickly in terms of calorie intake.

Similarly, many packaged snacks and desserts contain hidden sugars that can sabotage our efforts towards maintaining a healthy weight. Lastly, it's crucial to moderate the consumption of refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and white rice. These types of carbohydrates are rapidly digested by the body and can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels if consumed excessively.

Healthy Eating Habits to Prevent and Manage Obesity 2. Breaking Down Ultra-Processed Foods: What Are They, and Why Are They Harmful. Healthy Eating Habits to Prevent and Manage Obesity By Dr Sowmya Bondalapati Thu, 28 Sep Health topics.

Share this:. How does a diet affect obesity? What is the best diet for obesity? Foods to avoid if you are Obese One of the primary culprits in promoting obesity is the consumption of highly processed foods. Related Blog Articles- 1. Recent Posts. Respiratory Infections: Types, Prevention, and Treatment Mon, 12 Feb Pros and Cons of Diet Soda Mon, 12 Feb Premenstrual syndrome PMS Mon, 12 Feb Data relating to sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in EMR were harvested from a systematic assessment of beverage intake in countries The data from the Global Burden of Disease Study presented in this review included the rank of the nutrition related risk factors that caused deaths in EMR countries in as well as the percentage change in these risk factors between and The policies relating to actions to reduce NCDs in EMR, as well as the policies associated with healthy diets in the countries of the WHO-EMR, are tabulated.

Data have been extracted from various sources. These include the WHO's global 6 and regional health observatories 14 , data collected for the second WHO Global Nutrition Policy Review — 15 , the WHO Global Database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action GINA 16 , communication about country-level action from WHO country offices and national government nutrition focal points, and other relevant academic papers 17 — Specifically, data were collected on the policy areas related to a healthy diet that features in the new regional nutrition strategy Data are presented in narrative or tabular form.

To group countries according to the income level, the World Bank classification was used to identify the income level of each country The low-income group includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The lower middle-income group includes Djibouti, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, and the occupied Palestinian Territory.

The upper middle-income group includes: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya. The high-income level includes: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates UAE. Worldwide, in , cardiovascular diseases were responsible for million DALYs and In EMR, the high number of NCDs deaths was attributed to CVDs 1,, million in Pakistan recorded the highest number , followed by Egypt , , Iran , then Morocco , 6 Table 1.

Table 1. Number of deaths and probability of death attributed to CVDs, diabetes, and cancer among adults in EMR 6. Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high BMI, stress, high cholesterol levels, poor nutrition, and insufficient physical exercise are all considered risk factors responsible for the incidence of CVDs According to Franklin and Wong, hypertension is the main cause of cardiovascular disease, which worsens with age and may be the world's leading cause of mortality A cross-sectional study conducted among the local population of 53 cities in Punjab, Pakistan, reported that CVDs impacted An inactive lifestyle, low level of activity and family history of disease could be disease risk factors A comparative cross-sectional study involved students from two medical of both sexes from Saudi Arabia and Egypt revealed a relatively high prevalence of a sedentary life style, obesity, and abdominal obesity.

Saudi students revealed a significantly higher prevalence of obesity while male Egyptian students recorded a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension. Both populations were at an elevated risk of acquiring fatal cardiovascular disease within 10 years In Iran despite the slight recession in the number of smokers, total cholesterol, and blood pressure, adverse trends in physical activity, unhealthy diet, obesity, and fasting plasma glucose must be addressed immediately at a public health level in order to battle the advancement of CVDs According to the Global Burden of Disease Study , ischemic heart disease is the most common reason for death in EMR and it is the first reason for death in 19 countries in EMR Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen Other regions that suffer from this high risk of dying from ischemic heart disease were eastern Europe, central Asia, and south Asia The highest increase in the ischemic heart disease percentage between and , in the EMR, was reported in UAE Stroke is the second reason for death in nine countries Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, and Tunisia.

The highest increase in stroke percentage between and , was reported in UAE In , diabetes mellitus caused The prevalence is higher in urban Impaired glucose tolerance affected 7. Notably, in the prevalence of diabetes was the highest in the EMR Sudan, Qatar, Iran, Bahrain, Somalia, and Djibouti revealed the highest percentage of Diabetes among individuals aged 20—80 years Table 2.

Obesity, raised fasting blood glucose, raised blood pressure, diabetes prevalence, and cancer trends in EMR 6. Figure 2. Diabetes prevalence among adults in different regions 6.

In EMR, the total number of fatalities due to diabetes was , thousand in Pakistan recorded the highest number 80, followed by Egypt 26, , Iran , then Morocco 17, 6 Table 1. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, diabetes is the second cause of death in two countries Bahrain and Jordan and the third reason for death in three countries Iraq, Palestine, and Qatar in the region.

The highest increase in diabetes percentage between and in EMR was reported in UAE A cross sectional study reported that type 2 diabetes exerts a significant pressure on Bahrain's healthcare system—primarily due to costly diabetes-related complications.

Thereby, reducing the risk factors for diabetes is mandatory to minimize disabling and expensive complications Additionally, multivariate analysis for a wide community-based survey in Pakistan using glycated hemoglobin revealed a significant link between type 2 diabetes and old age.

Increase in body mass index, central obesity, positive family history, and having hypertension with type 2 diabetes were inversely related to education Egypt has been identified by the International Diabetes Federation as the ninth leading country in the world for the number of type 2 diabetes patients.

The frequency of type 2 diabetes has nearly tripled in the last two decades in Egypt. This dramatic increase could be due to an increase in the typical risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as obesity and physical inactivity, as well as a shift in dietary habits, or to other risk factors specific to Egypt.

Increased exposure to environmental risk factors such as pesticides and a higher prevalence of chronic hepatitis C are two examples In a population-level mathematical model among Qatari, the baseline scenario revealed that type 2 diabetes prevalence would be upregulated from Globally in , total cancers recorded Total cancers were the second-ruling reason for death and DALYs in worldwide Globally in , an estimated According to long-term projections, the EMR countries will suffer from a disturbing rise in the number of cancer patients reaching a 1.

The highest number of cancer cases in EMR in has been recorded in Pakistan , thousand individuals followed by Egypt , , then Iran , 9 Table 2. Bahrain, which is among the high income gulf countries, suffers from a rising burden of cancer 39 , Breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia, are the five most frequently diagnosed cancers in Bahrain Nearly one-third of the population of Bahrain is overweight or obese 42 , A systematic review investigating the epidemiological aspects of gastric cancer in Iran based on articles published during the years — showed that poor levels of economic position and food insecurity raised the probabilities of stomach cancer by 2.

Moreover, there was a link between dairy products, processed red meat, fruit juice, legumes, smoked and salty fish, salt, strong as well as hot tea consumption with the risk of stomach cancer.

There was also an inverse link between fresh fruit, citrus, and garlic consumption and stomach cancer The global age-standardized rate as reported by the American Institute for Cancer Research, for all cancers including non-melanoma skin cancer for both genders was Men revealed a higher rate Most of the EMR countries revealed a relatively high rate of cancer incidence as nine countries in the region have cancer rates of more than per , The highest cancer rates as revealed in have been reported in Egypt per , followed by Lebanon In EMR, the total number of fatalities due to cancer , in Pakistan recorded the highest number , followed by Egypt 85, , Iran 61, , then Morocco 33, 6 Table 1.

By , a three-fold increase in cancer incidence relative to was estimated to occur in Egypt The highest increase in cancer percentage between and in EMR was reported in the UAE A dramatic increase in NCDs-related risk factors has been reported in the EMR in the past 10 years The risk factors of NCDs comprise metabolic-physiological-related conditions including obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, high blood cholesterol as well as behavioral-related activities including smoking, low physical activity, unhealthy diet consumption, excessive use of alcohol.

Dietary risk is defined as eating a diet low in whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruit, vegetables, fibers, legumes, omega-3 fatty acids, PUFA, milk, and calcium as well as a diet high in sodium, trans fats, red or processed meat, and sugar-sweetened beverages SSB. Globally in , dietary risks were responsible for million DALYs and 7.

It was the fifth-ruling risk factor for attributable DALYs Dietary risk is the third risk factor in Syria and the fourth risk factor in 6 countries in the EMR Afghanistan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, KSA, and Yemen responsible for the most deaths and disabilities. The highest increase in dietary risk percentage between and in EMR was reported in UAE An adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risks of CVDs 49 , stroke 50 , type 2 diabetes 51 , and certain types of cancer 52 , 53 , which are the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the EMR.

In , the rate of fruits and vegetables intake among individuals living in the EMR was g per day, which is lower than WHO recommendation for the prevention of NCDs. It is noteworthy, that data concerning fruits and vegetables intake in EMR are limited.

Table 3. Food consumption in EMR Most individuals living in the EMR have an insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables. It has been established that only 7. The relationship between food consumption patterns and expenditure was investigated in village Kabal in rural areas of Pakistan, using a sample size of households.

The study outlined that an adult consumes nearly Furthermore, an assessment of fruits and vegetables consumption among medical students in Egypt outlined that 8.

Healthy food items were tried by only Fat consists of trans-fatty acids TFAs , saturated fatty acids SFA , and unsaturated fatty acids Saturated fatty acids can be found in animal products like milk, butter, cheese, as well as most plant oils, particularly palm and coconut oil, which are high in SFA.

Lauric acid, myristic acid, and palmitic acid PA are all major sources of SFA, and they all raise low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-c Increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and decreased nitric oxide and insulin signaling is some of the impacts of PA, which is found in palm oil 61 , In Saudi Arabia, a significant positive association was found between the intake of fats, protein, and calories and the risk of breast cancer.

Adjusted odds ratios for the highest quartile of intake versus the lowest were 1. Table 4. Salt, fat, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in EMR 4 , 11 , 12 , A diet high in trans-fatty acids is defined as any intake in percentage daily energy of trans fat from all sources, primarily partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and ruminant products.

TFAs are typically found in processed food, fast food, snack food, fried food, pies, cookies, margarine, and spreads In , a diet high in TFAs was responsible for It was the seventh-ruling dietary risk factor for attributable DALYs Industrial TFAs intake has also been related to an increased risk for other NCDs and associated conditions such as ovarian cancer 68 , infertility, endometriosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and obesity 59 , Higher consumption of hydrogenated vegetable oils was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction in a cohort study conducted among an Iranian population Laboratory analysis was conducted for profiling TFAs, saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids in the products that are mostly consumed in the major governorates in Egypt.

The study revealed that around one third of products in the Egyptian market have a high TFAs content Iran has achieved a marked improvement in the reduction of TFAs as early studies recorded There is uprising worry regarding the free sugars' intake, particularly in the form of SSB that increases the overall energy consumption and may reduce healthy food items' intake.

This leads to unhealthy dietary habits, subsequent weight gain, and increased risk of NCDs 54 , 81 — Another concern is the association between intake of free sugars and dental caries 54 , 84 — Dental diseases are the most prevalent NCDs globally 87 , In , a diet high in sugar-sweetened beverages was responsible for 6.

It was the 13th-leading dietary risk factor for DALYs The average consumption of raw sugar in EMR is 80 g per day, while the recommended amount of sugar is equivalent to 50 g. The highest mean consumption of SSB among EMR countries has been recorded in Djibouti 0. The highest juice intake in EMR has been recorded in KSA 0.

A review of the literature reveals that SSBs contribute partly to the obesity epidemic, as reported by epidemiologic studies, which emphasized the link between SSB consumption and long-term weight gain, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and CVDs risk.

It is hypothesized that SSB contribute to weight gain due to their high added sugar content, low satiety, and potential partial compensation for total energy leading to increased energy intake 90 , In addition, because of their large consumed quantities besides their high contents of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates such as different forms of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, SSB could be responsible for increased type 2 diabetes mellitus and CVDs incidence.

Independent of obesity, SSB could serve as a contributor to a high dietary glycemic load leading to inflammation, insulin resistance, and impaired ß-cell function Fructose from any sugar or high-fructose corn syrup may also increase blood pressure, and enhance the cumulative effects of visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, and ectopic fat precipitation due to upregulated hepatic de novo lipogenesis Excessive salt consumption is linked to adverse health outcomes, such as the increased risk of hypertension raised blood pressure , which in turn leads to stroke and heart disease The current salt intake in the Region averages more than 10 g per person per day, which is double the recommended level set by WHO.

Conversely, according to more recently collected data based on urinary excretion, the highest level of salt intake was observed in Morocco Based on dietary assessment questionnaires, the highest levels of salt intake were observed amongst Iranian children and adolescents Per capita estimates were also high in Oman Sodium is an essential nutrient necessary for the maintenance of plasma volume, acid-base balance, the transmission of nerve impulses, and normal cell function In our diet, the main source of sodium is salt, despite it can be attained from sodium glutamate, used as a food additive in many processed foods In , a diet high in sodium more than 3 g was responsible for It was the leading dietary risk factor for causing DALYs The highest mean sodium intake has been recorded in Bahrain 5.

The EMR population should be aware of how much salt they consume as the disease burden of CVDs, resulting mainly due to salt and subsequent high blood pressure, is very high in the region In a recent study, the salt intake levels were estimated in 15 out of the 22 countries in EMR, national salt reduction initiatives were identified in 13 countries including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, KSA, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia, and the UAE.

The majority of countries were discovered to be implementing complex reduction measures, which included two or more implementation strategies.

High body-mass index BMI was responsible for million DALYs and 5. It was the seventh-ruling risk factor for attributable DALYs in Being obese is usually linked to an increased risk of hypertension and many NCDs including diabetes, CVDs, and cancers Shifts in eating behavior toward diets containing energy-dense foods, high in fat and sugars, and less physical activity due to the sedentary nature of many forms of work and modes of transportation are contributing to the rise in obesity.

The prevalence of obesity in the EMR is the third-highest across all global regions 4. The current prevalence of obesity is estimated at Among the EMR, the gulf countries revealed the highest rate of obesity. The highest prevalence of obesity in EMR has been reported in Kuwait Figure 3.

Overweight and obesity prevalence among adults in different regions 6. The high prevalence of people who are overweight or have obesity in Saudi Arabia is considered a public health concern, as revealed in a cross-sectional study carried out on a representative sample of 1, adult patients.

Being overweight and having obesity were found to be prevalent in Obesity was not shown to be connected with smoking, although it was found to be associated with hypertension.

The risk of overweight or obesity was significantly inversely correlated with the monthly income The most recent national survey conducted in Egypt revealed that Moreover, the study outlined that 3. Research published in indicated that almost three-quarters of men and women in Jordan were overweight or obese.

Obesity rates in men were around twice as high in as they were in In the multivariate analysis, age, region of residence, and marital status were significantly associated with obesity in both genders.

Obesity was significantly linked with increased odds of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age Ultimately, obesity is the first reported risk factor responsible for the total number of DALYs in in eight countries in the region Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

It is the second reported risk factor in the other seven countries Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia. The highest increase in obesity percentage between and in EMR was reported in UAE The dramatic increase in obesity involves low-income countries in the region also including Djibouti and Afghanistan 13 as indicated in Table 5.

The prevalence figures revealed that obesity constitutes a significant public health concern in EMR because of its significant correlation to NCDs see Figures 4 , 5.

Table 5. The rank of the nutrition related risk factors that causes deaths in and the percentage change between — Figure 4. Correlation between the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cumulative cancer risk among adults in EMR 6 , Figure 5.

Correlation between the prevalence of obesity, probability of death due to CVDs, cancers, and diabetes among adults in EMR 6. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, low physical activity was ranked 18th in attributable DALYs in , accounting for The EMR has the highest prevalence of insufficient physical activity than any other region.

There is a clear relationship between physical inactivity and country income group globally 4. According to data from the UAE national health survey —, Insufficient physical activity was reported by women at a higher rate than men When compared to non-Emirates, Emiratis had a higher percentage of insufficient physical activity Physical inactivity is also a modifiable factor that is involved in upregulating the magnitude of NCDs.

People who are deficiently physically active have an enhanced risk of all-cause mortality, as compared to those who perform at least 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week.

Additionally, physical activity lowers the risk of stroke, hypertension, and depression Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart failure, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure, retinal hemorrhage, stroke, and dementia Several risk factors could be involved in the upregulated blood pressure, including high salt intake, being overweight or obese, excessive use of alcohol, low or lack of physical activity, stress, air pollution, and smoking Globally, in , one in four men, and one in five women i.

Reviewing the current trends demonstrated that the number of adults with high blood pressure increased from million in to 1. Among all the WHO-geographical regions, EMR was the second-highest in the incidence of raised blood pressure after Africa 4.

In , within the EMR, the prevalence of raised blood pressure is the highest in Somalia In , the highest prevalence of hypertension among adults was recorded in Iraq Figure 6. High blood pressure prevalence among adults in different regions 6.

Raised blood pressure is the second risk factor responsible for the total number of DALYs worldwide. Among EMR countries, hypertension is the first reported risk factor responsible for the total number of DALYs in six countries Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia while it is the second reported risk factor in other nine countries Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE, and Yemen.

The highest increase in blood pressure percentage between and in EMR was reported in UAE The increase in hypertension in the region has involved high-income countries including UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain 13 Table 5. Accordingly, all body tissues are affected by high blood glucose including the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, with subsequent complications including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, blindness, and nerve damage According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, raised fasting plasma glucose is the first reported risk factor accounted for the total number of DALYs in Palestine, while it is the second reported risk factor in three countries in the region Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar and it is the third risk factor in other seven countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

Blood cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke Among the WHO-designated regions, the prevalence of hyper-cholesterolemia was the third highest in the EMR, at In , global age-standardized mean total cholesterol was 4.

It is noteworthy that blood non-HDL cholesterol is strongly associated with the long-term risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

In , global age-standardized mean non-HDL cholesterol was 3. Within EMR countries, the highest mean non-HDL cholesterol in was recorded in Lebanon at 3. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, high LDL-c was the eighth-directing risk factor for DALYs.

It contributed to High LDL-c is the fifth reported risk factor in three countries in the region Morocco, Oman, and UAE , while it is the sixth reported risk factor in six countries in the region Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia. The highest increase in fasting plasma glucose percentage between and in EMR was reported in UAE Both overweight and obesity-related to unhealthy dietary habits as well as insufficient physical activity are the key risk factors for NCDs For instance, TFA consumption induces low-grade systemic inflammation and is positively correlated with endothelial dysfunction a non-obstructive coronary artery disease — Being overweight and having obesity also enhances low-grade systematic inflammation, creates a higher concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and further endothelial dysfunction, all of which are metabolic risk factors for nutrition-related NCDs, and in particular, heart disease , Figure 1.

Nevertheless, its association with other risk factors, including diabetes, high body cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome, obesity could serve as an independent risk factor for CVDs Since abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, the distribution of body fat represents an additional risk.

The intra-abdominal fat buildup promotes insulin resistance, which can lead to glucose intolerance, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL as well as hypertension Ultimately, obesity is the key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature death In a statewide cross-sectional study done by phone interviews in June in Saudi Arabia, obesity was found to be prevalent at Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, lung diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, colon diseases, and thyroid issues have all been significantly linked to obesity A further study conducted in Qatar confirmed that obesity risk factors c-peptide, insulin, albumin, and uric acid and obesity-related comorbidities such as diabetes e.

Substantially, elevated blood pressure has been linked to the consumption of food high in salt and NCDs. An intervention trial that included 9, adults with baseline systolic blood pressure between and mmHg indicated that a lower blood pressure target was accompanied by a significantly lower incidence of myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, heart failure, or death Diabetes also is a recognized and significant risk factor for CVDs CVDs is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes.

Of the 22 countries and territories in the EMR, 16 are considered low-income or middle-income countries. Several countries in the EMR have lengthy histories of political instability, war, and social conflict, which have resulted in the large-scale internal and external displacement of citizens; half of the region's countries and territories are now under an acute or chronic state of emergency.

These socioeconomic determinants of health, as well as accompanying inequities, have an impact on health status and access to care throughout the EMR as well as access to healthy food, which is unsurprising. Moreover, disease epidemiological data on disease incidence, prevalence, and management are scarce and lacking Furthermore, NCDs mortality, and its social, environmental, behavioral, nutritional, and clinical determinants are not distributed evenly within countries The most deprived communities have a higher risk of premature death than those in the most affluent.

Therefore, reducing national-level NCDs risk requires actions that address the disproportionate burden in deprived communities The lowest risk of NCDs mortality is seen in high-income countries in western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Canada, whereas, the highest risk was observed in low-income and middle-income countries.

The highest probabilities were seen in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and Guyana. In EMR, Yemen, and Afghanistan one in four to one in three people are at risk of dying from NCDs , people are about 3—7 times more likely to die than those in high-income countries.

Similarly, the probability of dying from NCDs between the age of 30 and 70 in EMR is Literature on this subject usually shows a positive association between socioeconomic status and obesity in low-income countries.

The study suggested that obesity programs and policies should be targeted at all socioeconomic status groups in Egypt Conversely, in research conducted in Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in men was Obesity and overweight increased in prevalence until 60 years of age, then declined in both sexes in the oldest age group.

After adjusting for age, earning a postgraduate degree raised the risk of obesity in men, but increased physical activity decreased it in both sexes. Obese women had a higher risk of prediabetes and diabetes, obese males had a higher risk of hypertension, and both sexes had a higher risk of dyslipidemia.

A familial history of dyslipidemia was linked to a lower risk of obesity in women, whereas women who were overweight were more liable to develop prediabetes, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, while men who were overweight were more liable to hypertension Analyzing the data from a population-based cross-sectional survey of diabetes and obesity in Kuwait, revealed that the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central obesity were Young adults aged 18—29 years have a significant prevalence of obesity and overweight.

In another cross-sectional study conducted among 3, Kuwaiti adults, obesity prevalence was Obesity prevalence was linked to female sex, age, diabetes history, and marital status in both men and women, but was inversely linked to education level in women.

Men were more likely to have an increased waist-to-hip ratio In both men and women, waist circumference, waist-hip, and waist-height ratios were found to be directly associated with diabetes and negatively associated with education level in women In a study conducted in Libya that explored the key risk and protective factors beyond the high prevalence rates of overweight and obesity, 11 factors were identified to be associated with obesity among men and women.

These include socio-demographic and biological factors, socioeconomic status, unhealthy eating behaviors, knowledge about obesity, social-cultural influences, healthcare facilities, physical activity, the effect of the neighborhood environment, sedentary behavior, food-subsidy policy, and suggestions for preventing and controlling obesity Another cross-sectional survey revealed that the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and normal weight among Libyan adults was Women were more likely than men to be overweight or obese the prevalence of overweight was The Sustainable Development Goals SDGs target 3.

It has been reported that the progress in most international countries is too slow to meet this goal Although SDG target 3. Throughout this review, the percentages of different risk factors associated with NCDs incidence have been elaborated.

This is important to highlight the pathways through which each country can achieve SDG target 3. Based on — trends, women in 17 of 9. The high-income countries that are on track include Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, and South Korea as well as central and eastern European countries.

Furthermore, NCDs death rates among men and women in EMR countries as Iran are falling quickly enough to meet the target. Kuwaiti women and Bahraini men are likewise on pace Bangladesh men , Egypt women from EMR, Ghana men and women , Côte d'Ivoire men and women , Kenya men and women , Mexico men , Sri Lanka women , Tanzania men , and the United States women were involved.

This could be referred to the changes in population size and age structure, even if the risk of dying from NCDs reduces, the number of deaths from NCDs may continue to rise According to a new World Health Organization report, if low and lower-middle income nations invest less than a dollar per person per year in the prevention and treatment of NCDs, close to seven million deaths could be avoided by 1.

These include low-cost strategies for reducing tobacco and alcohol use, improving diets, increasing physical activity, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and preventing cervical cancer see text footnote 1.

The regional framework for action on obesity prevention — , set a road map for countries of the region to accelerate the action on NCDs and obesity prevention. It sets out six key action areas for improving nutrition and food security including, sustainable, resilient food systems for healthy diets; aligned health systems providing universal coverage of essential nutrition actions; social protection and nutrition education; trade and investment for improved nutrition; safe and supportive environm ents for nutrition at all ages; and strengthened governance and accountability for nutrition 17 , 2.

By investing in the Best Buy policies, countries will protect people from NCDs. Best Buy actions include increasing health taxes, restrictions on marketing and sales of unhealthy dietary products, food labeling, and education. They also include actions connected to managing metabolic risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, to prevent more severe disease or complications see text footnote 1.

Table 6 reveals the key policies and action plans available and implemented among EMR countries 6 , 17 — The interventions have already been used successfully in many countries around the world.

Among EMR countries that are on track to meet SDG target 3. Among the top causes of morbidity and mortality related to nutrition in EMR are cardiovascular heart diseases followed by cancer and then diabetes. Globally, the disease burden attributable to hypertension, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, high fasting blood glucose, high sodium intake, and unhealthy diet consumption is increasing significantly, while the disease burden attributable to children being underweight, suboptimal breastfeeding, and micronutrient deficiencies have all decreased significantly.

Among the EMR countries, UAE followed by Jordan revealed a significant increase in the percentage change of nearly all the risk factors that are involved in NCDs causing morbidity and mortality The data and correlation figures included in this study represent evidence that constitutes a significant public health concern about the relationship between unhealthy diet consumption and obesity that further induces other risk factors including hypertension, insulin resistance, and a systemic inflammatory milieu , leading to NCDs Figure 1.

It is therefore important to recognize the key therapeutic modalities for treating and prohibiting NCDs, which are to fight against weight gain and obesity and to advocate lifestyle-based therapies; including proper nutrition and regular physical activity.

These are the key therapeutic modalities that will reduce the risk of NCDs. Additionally, body mass index should be used as a first step in establishing the criteria to judge potential health risks. Countries in the EMR need to continue building on the achieved progress and scale up action across the region while boosting efforts in areas where concrete action is absent through the following key stakeholders to reach the agreed global and regional goals relating to nutrition and diet-related NCDs.

This could be achieved through the following key stakeholders, Governments can provide and improve access to quality NCDs and obesity care, as well as develop and implement policies that promote and normalize healthy eating and living, in addition to banning the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages high in fat, sugar, and salt.

Civil society groups, including non-governmental organizations and the media, can work with individuals and communities to educate and diffuse key messages on the root causes of NCDs and obesity, the importance of prevention and treatment, as well as the impact of adopting healthy behaviors like keeping physically active and choosing healthy food and drinks.

Health care professionals, whether working directly in NCDs and obesity care or supporting and working with those living with obesity, can learn more about obesity, expand their knowledge, and have up-to-date, evidence-based obesity management resources to help them understand and address the root causes of this disease.

Individuals and families can adopt healthier behaviors, share experiences, as well as ask for support, whilst also supporting others to improve their health and well-being and that of their children 17 see text footnote 2.

Countries in EMR are encouraged to adopt and implement the regional nutrition strategy for nutrition — 21 , the regional framework for action on obesity prevention — , and the regional framework for action to implement the United Nations Political Declaration on the NCDs All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work and approved it for publication.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

World Bank. Population, Total Data. TOTL accessed September 1, World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases Google Scholar.

Noncommunicable Diseases: Progress Monitor Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profiles Non-Communicable Diseases - Level 1 Cause. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Health Observatory. Musaiger AO, Al-Hazzaa HM. Prevalence and risk factors associated with nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Int J Gen Med. doi: PubMed Abstract CrossRef Full Text Google Scholar. NCD Risk Factor Collaboration NCD-RisC.

Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from to apooledanalysis of population-basedmeasurement studies in Global Cancer Observatory. fr Food Agricultural Organization. Food Balance Sheets. Powles J, Fahimi S, Micha R, Khatibzadeh S, Shi P, Ezzati M, et al.

Global, regional and national sodium intakes in and a systematic analysis of 24 h urinary sodium excretion and dietary surveys worldwide. BMJ Open. Singh GM, Micha R, Khatibzadeh S, Shi P, Lim S, Andrews KG, et al.

Global burden of diseases nutrition and chronic diseases expert group NutriCoDE , Global, regional, and national consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, and milk: a systematic assessment of beverage intake in countries.

PLoS One. Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation. org accessed August 30, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Regional Health Observatory. html accessed August 19, Global Nutrition Policy Review Geneva: WHO Global Database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action GINA.

Al-Jawaldeh A, Hammerich A, Doggui R, Engesveen K, Lang K, McColl K. Implementation of WHO recommended policies and interventions on healthy diet in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: from policy to action.

Al-Jawaldeh A, Rayner M, Julia C, Elmadfa I, Hammerich A, McColl K. Improving nutrition information in the eastern Mediterranean region: implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling.

Al-Jawaldeh A, Taktouk M, Chatila A, Naalbandian S, Al-Thani AA, Alkhalaf MM, et al. Salt reduction initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and evaluation of progress towards the global target: a systematic review.

PubMed Abstract Google Scholar. Al-Jawaldeh A, Taktouk M, Chatila A, Naalbandian S, Abdollahi Z, Ajlan B, et al. A systematic review of trans fat reduction initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Front Nutr. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Mediterranean.

Strategy on Nutrition for the Eastern Mediterranean Region Cairo: WHO World Bank Country and Lending Groups. Cardiovascular Diseases - Level 2 Cause. Ueshima H, Sekikawa A, Miura K, Turin TC, Takashima N, Kita Y, et al.

Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in Asia: a selected review. Franklin SS, Wong ND. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease: contributions of the Framingham Heart Study. Glob Heart. Zubair F, Nawaz SK, Nawaz A, Nangyal H, Amjad N, Khan MS. Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Punjab, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

J Public Health. CrossRef Full Text Google Scholar. Mahmoud AE. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among Egyptian and Saudi medical students: a comparative study. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. Rahmani F, Asgari S, Khalili D, Moeini ASH, Tohidi M, Azizi F, et al.

National trends in cardiovascular health metrics among Iranian adults using results of three cross-sectional STEPwise approaches to surveillance surveys. Sci Rep. Countdown NC.