It has become a global crisis: Silent danger increases deaths

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, the number of people affected by illness and injury has increased by 11 percent since 2010. During the same period, health losses due to high blood sugar increased by 6 percent, while classic risk factors such as high cholesterol and blood pressure decreased by 15 percent.

'STILL NOT SOLVED'

Experts say that despite factors like falling smoking, exposure to air pollution, and hypertension being brought under control, obesity remains a major unsolved threat. "Thanks to government policies and medications, we've been able to reduce many risk factors, but obesity remains untouched," said Professor Naveed Sittar, a cardiovascular disease specialist at the University of Glasgow.

Sittar notes that people today are adopting more sedentary lifestyles and consuming more calorie-dense, processed foods. The study found that while trans fat and salt consumption has decreased globally, consumption of sugary drinks and processed meat has increased significantly.

The increased blood sugar levels associated with obesity also increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. According to Sittar, the problem is twofold: Chronically ill patients living with obesity become resistant to treatment, and obesity can lead to the development of new diseases.

In recent years, GLP-1 class drugs (e.g., semaglutide) have shown promise in treating diabetes and obesity. However, Sittar notes that these drugs are currently expensive, have limited availability, and are only effective in the long term. “These drugs are not currently in widespread use. Until a tablet form is developed, it will be difficult to make a significant difference,” he says.

This trend is severely impacting not only adults but also children. According to research, more than 1 billion people worldwide are obese, 159 million of whom are children and adolescents. From 1990 to 2022, obesity rates among children quadrupled and among adults more than doubled.

However, researchers report that mental health issues like anxiety and depression have also been on the rise in terms of disease burden since the pandemic.