OBESITY IN RWANDA

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Case presentation

Sara ,32 years old Rwandan female Divorced with 2 children Works as a general secretary in a district

hospital

Measurements

Height:1,72 meters Weight:110kgs BMI:37 Initial BP:146/94

Laboratory

Glucose: 130mg/dl(fasting) LDL:130 HDL:36 TG:198 Total cholesterol:149

Clinical course

Physician educated her about basic nutrition, exercise tips and diabetes

Patient motivated to decrease weight when she understood that all of her medical problems could possible be resolved by weight loss.

Monthly summary progress

Month weight BP Notes1 110 146/942 100 138/90 Feeling

motivated, taking stairs at work, feels healthier and report having more energy

3 91 125/80 Patient continues to be motivated, do well

4 85 128/80 Patients blood sugar improving.

DISCUSSION

OBESITY

Obesity is defined as excess of adipose tissue that imparts

Health risk ,It means too much of body fat.

BMI

Most widely used method to evaluate obesity is BMI.

Which is equal to weight in kg by height in square meter i.e., wt/(ht)2.

For a healthy individual BMI value ranges from 18-25.

BMI Classification

Normal 18.5 - 24.9 Overweight 25.0 - 29.9 Obesity

I 30.0 - 34.9 II 35.0 - 39.9 III > 40.0

Global Health burden of obesity

The latest WHO projections indicate that at least one in three of the world's adult population is overweight and almost one in 10 is obese. Additionally there are over 20 million children under age five who are overweight.

Global Health burden of obesity

Overweight and obesity are important clinical and public health burdens worldwide.

WHO recommends that national programs for prevention and treatment of overweight, obesity and related comorbidities and mortalities should be a public health priority

What are Health consequences ofObesity?

Obesity Virtually Guarantees Bad Health

Diseases Tied to Obesity

Hypertension Type 2 diabetes High lipids Cardiovascular disease Gallbladder disease

Some cancers Osteoarthritis Stroke Respiratory disease

etc..

What Are the secrets?

The good news is that overweight and obesity are largely preventable.

Regular Physical Activity is the key.

Improves maintenance of weight loss

Improves cardiovascular and other health risks

When one walks on the streets of Kigali, you see an increased number of obese people. The thought that first comes to your mind is “These people should start exercising.”  But then, after seeing people exercise and stay the same, the question comes whether exercise alone really helps in losing the extra and unwanted kilos.

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Exercises alone do not help much.

Exercises

Loss

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Exercises plus Diet

MenWomen

To be clear!

Regular physical activity is very good to keep healthy. But when it comes to weight loss, exercise alone won’t help. It will be effective if coupled with a sensible diet.

What is the situation in our country?

A survey done in Rwanda and published in 2005 by the WHO showed that among women 15 to 49 years old who had given birth, 12.5% were overweight (with a body mass index of 25kg/m2 and be yond), with 1.3% being obese (with a body mass index of 30kg/m2 and beyond).

Survey Year(s): 2000.Survey Population: national, both urban and rural women who have given birth from 2000 to 2005

Growing tendency of obesity in Rwanda

Many people especially in Africa are found of being fat.

In Rwanda, fatness is associated with financial ability and as it is a country which is rapidly developing ,obesity tend also to increase.

However, being obese is a risk to health!

Causes of obesity in Rwanda

Increase of beverages and food from industries in public service venues

Fear of loosing weight Insufficient physical education in school Genetic factors Lack of education

Challenges and barriers faced in Rwanda regarding obesity

Lifestyle changes Cultural behaviours Poverty Urbanization

The government Should Increase Opportunities for Extracurricular Physical Activity.

The government Should Increase Physical Education in Schools.

What measures can the governement take to reduce obesity?

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The government Should Increase and improve Availability of Healthier Food in Public Service Venues.

Educate ourselves on available options for obese clients.

Make sure patients are aware of the risks involved.

Our Responsibility

Increase support for breast feeding

Discourage consumption of sugar sweetened beverages

Participate in community coalitions or partnership to address obesity

Enhance walking for short distance

What can our community and individuals do to reduce obesity?

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Summary

Obesity in itself is preventable but it cannot be managed solely at the individual level.Communities,governments and medical proffessionals need to work together to modify the environment so that it is less conductive to weight gain.

Remember!Exercises Healthier diet

References

http://www.who.int/topics/obesity/en/ http://health.einnews.com/news/rwanda-dieting-obesity-wei

ght-control http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=

50 http://ubuzimabwacu.com/tag/rwanda-obesity/ www.afro.who.int/index.php?option country-bmi.findthedata.org/d/g/

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!MURAKOZE CANE!

QUESTIONS?

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