"Holyday" eating habits of Russians - the main factor in obesity

The problem of overweight and obesity in Russia has become increasingly important in recent years. According to experts, about 60% of the country's population is overweight. Specialists name several key reasons that explain the current alarming situation.

One of the main problems, according to Elena Pavlovskaya, a leading researcher of the department of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition therapy of the clinic "FIC Nutrition and Biotechnology", is the "festive" type of diet ingrained among the Russian population, writes "Moscow 24". It involves frequent inclusion in the diet of fried dishes, mayonnaise salads, sweets, smoked food and other high-calorie foods. With regular consumption of such food, including people with a minimal predisposition to fullness will inevitably gain pounds.

In addition, the expert notes that the genetic predisposition to overweight can also play a role. However, it only manifests itself when a person does not have a healthy eating culture in the family. Among many Russian households where parents or other loved ones are overweight, unhealthy eating habits persist and are passed on from generation to generation.

In general, Pavlovskaya emphasizes that the optimal range of fat mass for a healthy woman is 18-28%, and for a man - 10-20%. However, a significant proportion of Russians go beyond these limits, which negatively affects their well-being and increases the risks of developing serious diseases.

In addition to personal costs, overweight population creates a significant burden on the country's healthcare system. According to experts' estimates, obesity and related pathologies cost Russian medicine tens of billions of rubles annually. These funds could be more usefully directed to the treatment of other socially significant diseases.

Thus, overcoming the problem of overweight in Russia requires a comprehensive approach. An important role here is played by the formation of a healthy eating culture, especially among the younger generation. It is necessary to instill in children and young people the skills of rational, balanced and moderate consumption of food with the restriction of high-calorie foods. Only such work at the level of the family and society as a whole will make it possible to stop the spread of obesity and related serious health problems.

In parallel, the infrastructure for physical education and sports should be developed and active lifestyles should be encouraged. After all, proper nutrition combined with regular physical activity is the key to maintaining optimal weight and good health.

Solving the problem of overweight will not only improve the health of Russians, but also reduce the burden on the health care system, freeing up resources for other important medical tasks. Of course, this requires complex and systematic efforts, but the benefits of such work cannot be overestimated.