According to a study done by the Health Ministry, half of Colombians are overweight and are generally unhealthy.
Health Ministry official Fernando Ramirez, in conjunction with a professor from the University of Antioquia carried out a study of Colombian health. The study found that 50% of all Colombians are classified as overweight. Furthermore, 16.5% percent of that 50% are clinically obese. The study defined an overweight man as having a waist bigger than 90 centimeters and an overweight woman as having a waist over 80 centimeters.
According to Caracol Radio who interviewed Ramirez, he stated that widespread obesity “is due to bad eating habits (high in sugar, fat, flour and salt), physical inactivity and an excess of alcohol and tobacco. Across the country, the populations of all cities have obesity problems. Moreover, abdominal obesity has increased by 6% in recent years….regions with higher rates of abdominal obesity are the coffee regions, Bogota, San Andres and Valle.”
He went on to say that the most concerning problem is in children younger than four years old, where he claims 20% of the demographic is prone to obesity.
His solution to the problem is good old fashioned exercise and eating fruits and vegetables as well as consuming less alcohol and tobacco.
Other surprising statistics from the study:
- 1 in 2 are physically inactive
- 1 in 3 do not eat fruit daily, and 2 in 3 do not eat vegetables daily
- 1 in 8 adults smoke and 1 in 3 youth smoke
