“That the disease and its consequences are known”

Obesity is a chronic multifactorial disease that affects a large part of the Spanish population. However, it often remains invisible both in society and in the healthcare sector. According to a recent study, an alarming 40 percent of obese people who go to the doctor do not have the condition in their medical history, showing great disparity in approaches to this public health problem. To clarify this situation, Lilly in collaboration with the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO) took the initiative “The Weight of the Invisible”. This tourism campaign will visit several Spanish cities with the goal of raising public awareness about obesity, its causes and the consequences it entails, beyond the aesthetic aspects usually associated with them.

Obesity is a disease of the 21st century, which emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive and effective approach.

This campaign is a true reflection of the importance that the fight against this disease is gaining in society. More and more countries are launching campaigns to provide a comprehensive and effective approach to their patients. This is a disease of the 21st century.Moreover, without a doubt, a decrease in incidence is not expected, but rather the opposite. Its prevalence is becoming higher and at younger ages.

In this sense, The UK has taken a bold step by assessing the possibility of allowing the use of Mujaro (tirzepatide) to treat obesity.with a special focus on the unemployed to improve their health and facilitate their reintegration into the labor market. This approach not only benefits individuals, but also reduces the economic impact that obesity has on the health care system and productivity. Obesity, which affects millions of people around the world, is not only a health problem, but also an economic and social problem. It is critical to develop effective policies that combine prevention, treatment and support for those already living with this chronic disease.

Make obesity visible

However, The Weight of the Invisible is a campaign that From October 23 to November 30, 2024, he will visit six key cities: Barcelona, ​​A Coruña, Valencia, Malaga, Seville and Madrid.. The journey aims to provide up-to-date information on obesity through a meeting point where health experts will offer free body composition assessments and muscle strength tests. These non-invasive bioimpedance and dynamometry tests will be carried out by endocrinologists, nutritionists and medical staff who will provide personalized advice to all people wishing to know their health status.

The Weight of the Invisible will tour six key cities: Barcelona, ​​La Coruña, Valencia, Malaga, Seville and Madrid from October 23 to November 30, 2024.

The urgency of this initiative lies not only in raising awareness, but also in the need to treat obesity for what it is: a disease that requires appropriate clinical treatment. As noted Rosemary Neipp, director of public and patient relations at Lilly: “We are working to make visible the challenges that people with obesity face in their daily lives, so that there is a better understanding of what the disease is and the consequences it entails.”

Complexity

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that affects approximately one in five adults in Spain.. Not only excess weight, but also the accumulation of dysfunctional fat tissue affects overall health and increases the risk of developing other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease.

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that affects approximately one in five adults in Spain.

As explained Cristobal Morales, endocrinology specialist and SEEDO memberObesity affects one in five adults in Spain, and while work needs to be done to prevent it, the responsibility to address the problem in consultation cannot be ignored. The sooner this is done, the more effective we will be. Obesity is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, metabolic and psychological factors, making it a difficult disease to treat for many people. Attempts to lose weight are often thwarted due to something called biological resistance: a phenomenon in which the body responds to weight loss by increasing hunger and decreasing satiety, making it difficult to maintain the gains.

Stigmata

One of the main barriers to proper treatment of obesity is the social stigma surrounding it. In many cases Obese people are held responsible for their situation, as if it were simply a matter of lack of will or carelessness in caring for themselves. This type of stigma is present both in society and in healthcare, where, as the aforementioned study shows, a significant proportion of patients do not have obesity in their medical records.

Obese people should be aware that there are problems that interfere with weight loss.

Pharmacist Garcia, science communicator

Boticaria Garcia, science communicator stresses the importance of debunking these myths: “Obese people should be aware that there are problems that interfere with weight loss. Not all factors are under your control, and your body’s biological resistance may slow your efforts.” Besides, Obesity-related stigma contributes to mental health problems, increases discrimination and impedes access to adequate treatment..

Integrated approach

The Weight of the Invisible is not only an awareness campaign; this is a call to action to change the perception and treatment of obesity in the Spanish healthcare system.. Cristobal Morales from SEEDO emphasizes the importance of transforming the health system to ensure a sustainable response to people suffering from obesity: “There are millions of scientific data on the impact of obesity on health, and it is very important that the support of the health system “It is comprehensive and supported over time, with a multidisciplinary team that guides and guides the patient.”

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