During the Forbes Health Summit: The Power of Innovation, presented by Eli Lilly, the Saving Lives Through Innovations in Obesity Care panel was held, where experts discussed the urgency of addressing obesity as a global crisis.
Rachel Batterham, senior vice president of International Medical Affairs of Eli Lilly, stressed that obesity not only impacts people’s health, but also represents a threat to the financial stability of health systems worldwide.
“Obesity is a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the main cause of death in people with this condition. To reduce these deaths, we need to achieve a weight loss of 15%. Any reduction is beneficial, but when obesity has already generated complications, a two -digit decrease in body weight is required, ”Batterham explained.
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Genetic and environmental factors drive obesity
Batterham emphasized that obesity is a multifactorial disease. About 70% of the chances of developing it depend on inherited genes, but also influence the environment and life habits.
“Throughout evolution, food has been scarce and our body has developed mechanisms to drive us to eat when there is availability. The problem is that our environment has changed dramatically: we are surrounded by highly caloric foods and with an attractive flavor that encourage overweight and obesity, ”he said.
In addition, he explained that scientific advances have allowed new treatments focused on regulating body appet systems. These medications, originally designed for diabetes, have shown effectiveness in weight loss and obesity control.
Prevention, key to curbing the epidemic of obesity
While medical treatments are fundamental, Batterham stressed the importance of prevention.
“No child today needs to develop obesity if we really change our environment. It is essential to improve nutrition and encourage physical activity from an early age, ”he said.
He also recommended that all people adopt a healthy diet and perform at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise per day to reduce the risk of obesity and their complications.
The central message of the panel was clear: fighting obesity requires a comprehensive approach that combines scientific advances, prevention policies and lifestyle changes, with the aim of reducing its impact on global health and economics.
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