(haipo) – In recent years, the rise in obesity rates has become a global phenomenon – and Israel is no exception in this regard. Similar to Western countries, we are also experiencing a significant increase in the number of people living with overweight and obesity, and this is true for adults, teenagers and children.
A combination of a sedentary lifestyle, a high-calorie diet, and little physical activity is a clear recipe for the intensification of the phenomenon, which is indeed expanding.
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics for 2024, 49% of the adult population in Israel is struggling with obesity: 55% of men and 43% of women.
Men are getting fatter
The data indicate a clear trend – more than half of the adult population is overweight. There are gaps, among other things, between different population groups: among the Arab population, obesity rates are higher (59%) compared to the Jewish population (46%). The breakdown of the data shows that obesity is more common among Arab men (46%) than among Arab women (36%).
Serious medical consequences
Obesity is not just an aesthetic issue – it is a chronic disease that affects overall health and increases the risk of developing serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cancer.
The health disparities are evident here as well: As of 2021, about 30% of Arab men aged 55-64 in Israel were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, compared to only 17% among Jewish men of the same age.
Chronic illness with social stigma
Although it is a chronic disease in every sense, obesity is still associated with many stigmas. Many see it as the result of improper behavior – overeating, laziness, or lack of exercise – but it is now known that it is a much more complex phenomenon.
Studies indicate that the mechanisms of hunger and satiety in people living with obesity are different from those of people without it. In addition, hormonal, biological, and genetic factors also play a significant role in the development of the disease.
How do we identify obesity and when should we seek treatment?
Obesity is defined using the BMI (body mass index), but it should be remembered that the diagnosis is more complex, and it is not just a measurement or a number that appears on the scale, but a comprehensive assessment that includes a medical history and various other tests. The treatment of obesity must be multi-systemic and include dietary changes, the integration of physical activity and sometimes also medication.
New drug treatments help balance the satiety mechanism, contribute to weight loss, and significantly reduce the risk of comorbidities. Studies indicate that treating obesity may reduce the risk of heart disease, heart failure, and stroke by about 20% – regardless of the weight lost.
What is important to know before starting treatment?
To ensure success in treatment, it must be combined with a change in lifestyle, including proper nutrition and regular physical activity. Since this is a chronic disease, its treatment requires perseverance throughout life, and stopping treatment may cause obesity to return. At the beginning of treatment, some patients may experience side effects, but they usually pass after a short time.
Not a decree of fate
Despite the alarming trend, it is important to emphasize that obesity can certainly be tackled and its serious consequences prevented. Increasing awareness, changing health policy, promoting education for proper nutrition and encouraging physical activity – all of these can change the face of the fight against obesity in Israel. The challenge is indeed great, but it is achievable through a combination of medical, educational and social approaches.
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Operative proposal to the Haifa Municipality:
1. Invest in wide and safe sidewalks on main roads and reduce physical towing and fines for blocking vehicles.
2. Prioritize walking and eliminate the "20-30 minute walk"
3. Create support for pedestrians in the city: sidewalks, shade, renovation of staircases, pruning of low branches, lighting,
Closing small streets to vehicles and turning them into pedestrian or combined Dutch streets.
4. Placing posts on sidewalks that are permanently blocked to prevent obstruction to pedestrians (Zionist and Allenby Ave., for example)
5. Creating urban walking groups on wadi trails led by young guides
6. Removing the zoo and transforming the mother garden into a large urban garden with fitness complexes and outdoor street workout equipment.
7. Prohibiting the purchase of fattening refreshments at municipal events and creating an 'event menu' that will be mandatory for every municipal body