DILI, 04 march 2023 (TATOLI) – The World Health Organization Timor-Leste (WHO-TL), together with the Ministry of Health (MoH), organized a Walk the Talk event to celebrate World Obesity Day in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste.
World Obesity Day, observed annually on march 4, highlights the environmental and medical factors that contribute to high obesity rates. The day focuses on what can be done to end the stigma.
The celebration of World Obesity Day also reminds people of the challenges and threats that obesity poses to every person.
In Timor-Leste, many joined Health, Minister Odete Maria Freitas Belo and WHO Representative, Arvind Mathur at the event to promote physical activity and healthy living.
To further promote healthy living, WHO encouraged participants to take a blood sugar test.
“Obesity is not about appearance; it is about health,” said Minister Belo.
Mathur highlighted the link of obesity to a range of health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers: “Let’s make healthy living a priority!”
Data from the Timor-Leste Food and Nutrition Survey 2020 (TLFNS) indicates that 19.3% of women are overweight and obese. The proportion of women who were overweight/obese (BMI >=25kg/m2) increased from 9.8% in 2016 to 19.3% in 2020.
According to TLFNS, about 1.2% of children (aged 0-59 months) are overweight (>+2SD Weight-for-height).
It is said that, in Timor-Leste, Body Mass Index (BMI) based-obesity is more prevalent among women than men.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
