How to beat and treat obesity
Around one in eight adults in Switzerland are living with obesity, a modern lifestyle disease that has high health risks. But there are numerous ways to tackle obesity head on.
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Around one million people in Switzerland have to face the reality of knee pain, shortness of breath after climbing a few steps, and the feeling that their own body is a burden. Obesity is more than just a number on the scales – it affects nearly every aspect of life. But there are many options available today for anyone who wants to lose weight and live more healthily.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a serious chronic illness that can have long-term consequences for health and well-being. Excessive fatty tissue not only makes the body heavier, but also makes it more susceptible to a range of health risks. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a body mass index of 30 and above is considered obese. The BMI measures the ratio of your height to your weight to estimate the amount of body fat you have.
What’s the difference between being overweight and being obese?
BMI: calculating when you’re overweight
Causes and risk factors
Obesity is promoted by a complex interplay of several factors that goes far beyond the simple equation of too much food and too little exercise. Genetic predisposition, psychological and social influences and the cultural environment play a central role. According to the Swiss Obesity Alliance, a high-calorie diet coupled with a lack of exercise is a major risk factor, but emotions such as stress, frustration and loneliness can also promote unhealthy eating habits and contribute to weight gain.
Genetic factors influence the basal metabolic rate, i.e. the amount of calories the body consumes at rest. People with a low basal metabolic rate tend to gain more weight, even if they don’t eat more than lean people. Hormonal disorders such as an underactive thyroid or Cushing’s syndrome, which leads to an overproduction of cortisol, can also affect the metabolism and increase the risk of obesity.
Symptoms and consequences of obesity
People with obesity often suffer from a variety of physical symptoms that make daily life more difficult. They are subject to physical limitations, and even simple activities such as climbing stairs or bending down lead to shortness of breath and rapid fatigue. They frequently sweat profusely, even with minimal exertion and at lower temperatures.
Painful joints
Poor sleep and sleep apnoea
Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
Obesity as a taboo topic: psychological and social consequences
Diagnosis and treatment
Obesity is diagnosed by measuring the BMI and waist circumference. A blood test is also often taken to determine risks such as high blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A thorough diagnosis helps find the right treatment from a range of options taking in everything from exercise therapy to surgery.
Conservative treatment
Drug therapy
Surgery
Preventing obesity
To prevent obesity, you have to eat healthily and get regular exercise. In its dietary recommendations, which were revised in 2024, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) recommends a diet based predominantly on plant-based protein, wholegrain products and seasonal fruit and vegetables.
A diet rich in dietary fibre with little sugar and few processed foods helps you feel fuller for longer and reduces the risk of gaining too much weight. It is also important to get more exercise in your daily routine. Being active for just 30 minutes a day is proven to reduce the risk of becoming obese.
Childhood obesity
Figures published by the WHO show that around one in three children in Europe are struggling with obesity – an alarming trend. According to the Swiss Obesity Alliance, around 15% of children and young people in Switzerland are overweight or obese. Programmes such as “Fourchette verte”, which promote healthy eating habits in schools, show that education and early support can have a lasting effect.
Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz, a foundation that supports programs in kindergartens and schools, recommends that parents pay attention to healthy eating and exercise from an early age in order to promote a healthy weight in the long term. The foundation encourages exercise and healthy eating to be taught in a playful and everyday way. Especially after the pandemic, the exercise habits of many children have changed for the worse – a trend that, according to the WHO, must be counteracted in order to prevent long-term health problems.