If we look at the map of Spain, there are differences in the obesity figures between the different autonomous communities, why is this fact?
The prevalence in Spanish regions is not easy to establish due to the different parameters studied, but, in general, it can be pointed out that obesity is more frequent in northern areas such as Asturias or part of Galicia and also in the Canary Islands. In the rest of the north and center the figures are at average levels and below in the Levante, Northeast and Balearic Islands.
The primary cause of these differences lies in the socio-economic environment. The lower the cultural and educational development, the higher the incidence of obesity. Genetic causes have a lesser influence than environmental ones.
Andalusia has started to take measures against childhood obesity by removing sweets from schools; what more measures do you think would be necessary? They have also started to apply taxes on energy drinks, do you think it is useful?
Most childhood obesity is a consequence of lifestyle, family habits and economic, political and cultural issues. In the last 40 years there have been very big changes in Spain, from a poorer society to a richer one, with very different policies in food production, education, society, transport, media and advertising, technologies….
All these factors are inseparable and have produced very important social improvements, but also a society of misunderstood welfare, with a large increase in overweight and obesity.
For this reason, eliminating sweets in schools and energy drinks are useful measures, but very insufficient.
Do we have a bad education in nutrition, why, and what do you think should change?
In the animal realm, instinct is what controls feeding. Any animal knows its nutritional needs according to its situation, and if it can satisfy them, it will do so exactly according to what it needs.
The human species has behaved in a similar way throughout its evolution, almost always in environments of food shortage, until the last few decades. Now the food superabundance and the way of life has turned food into a satisfactory way of facing unfavorable situations, a reward in the face of problems. It is similar to what happens with tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and other addictions.
Stress is the word of reference to understand these situations, introduced by the physician Hans Selye more than 50 years ago, defining it as the defense mechanisms used by living beings to face threatening situations that put them in danger. These mechanisms are of the neuroendocrine type and when they fail to stabilize the organic balance, they produce a general wear and tear that results in all kinds of physical and mental illnesses.
A very high proportion of cases of obesity have their origin in the stress inherent in the lifestyles of today’s societies.
Are you optimistic about the future, or do you think we will get worse?
Human beings have survived unimaginable situations. We have to be positive about the obesity epidemic.
If our way of life is the basic cause of the problem, we will have to change it. Nature warns us that things are not going well in many aspects, despite the successes achieved.
The whole of society has to be involved because obesity is a public health problem.
Finally, in this complicated puzzle, if the healthy balance tends to break down, the physician, with his new dietary treatments, must always be there to restore it.