53% of the Spanish population is overweight and obese, something that is significantly influenced by lack of exercise. 42.6% of the population is totally sedentary and does not spend even an hour a week on physical activity.
This is one of the conclusions of the study presented this Wednesday by the Spanish Obesity Society (Seedo) on the occasion of the World Day Against Obesity that is celebrated on March 4 and that confirms the “alarming” rates of obesity and overweight that Spain endures and that the covid-19 pandemic has only worsened.
Thus, 53.8% of the more than 1,000 respondents declared having weight problems, 36.6% overweight and 17.2% obese; It is more frequent in men and increases as age increases, reaching 66% in people over 65 years of age, according to data presented by the Seedo president, María del Mar Malagón.
It is also a chronic disease: six out of ten have been fighting it for more than 25 years, although only half have received advice to reduce their excess weight.
70.9% would like to be thinner, especially women, of whom 78.2% have tried to lose kilos at some point in their lives compared to 67.2% of men.
In total, 80.6% of overweight people and 91.4% of those with obesity have tried to lose weight at some point, he added. Sharona Azriel, Associate of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service of the Infanta Sofía University Hospital in Madrid.
Not in vain, obesity brings with it an enormous social stigma: 43.9% have felt self-conscious about it, again more women (54.5%). 14.1% of those surveyed have even felt rejected on some occasion.
Other reasons for obesity and overweight
Two years ago, Seedo carried out another survey after the confinement that revealed that 44% of Spaniards gained weight during the confinement, mostly between 1 and 3 kilos.
The change of routines, with a greater intake of alcohol and snacks, in addition to the lack of activity, was behind these data.
Now, the implementation of teleworking, spending more hours sitting in front of the computer and near the kitchen, stress or limitations to go to sports centers have consolidated this trend, said Albert Lecube, head of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service of the Arnau de Villanova University Hospital (Lleida).
In fact, most of the participants, who were interviewed at the end of January, attribute their weight problems to lack of exercise (32%), followed by poor nutritional habits (20%) and anxious or anxiety-related components. emotional management (19%).
Up to 42.6% state that they are totally sedentary or do not engage in physical exercise (including brisk walking, running, jogging, cycling, gymnastics or any other sports activity) even one hour a week.
Almost half, 47.2%, spend between 1 and 5 hours a day sitting, lying down or inactive (not counting hours of sleep), 31% spend between 5 and 8 hours a day and 16% exceed that weather. Four out of ten spend between 2 and 5 hours looking at the screen and 28.1% spend more than 5.
In contrast, 44.8% practice some sport, especially walking and gym activities, although only 22.7% take, on average, more than 7,000 steps daily.
Of the sedentary population, 80.7% admit that they could spend at least 15 minutes a day exercising for 4 or 5 minutes a week; 94.9% of young people say that they could do more than one hour a week, but they do not do it because they do not like it or because of the high price of sports centers.
Faced with this, César Bustos, CEO of “There are no excuses”, proposes, for example, getting up every hour and doing five squats or following exercise rituals on social networks such as YouTube. What does not attract them? “Dancing is a fun and non-injurious activity. We have to look for activities that we like.”
If you choose to walk, do it “as if you were going to miss the bus” because for this activity to be really effective for losing weight, you have to do it at a rate of at least 100 steps per minute.
But the most effective for fat loss, and contrary to what has been thought for a long time, is not cardio activities, but strength training, which also helps prevent injuries.
All in all, the experts have wanted to make it clear that the war against the obesity epidemic requires a much more global approach with individualized treatments that range from diets to more hours of sleep, less stress or better access to drugs.
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