Many diseases have obesity as a risk factor. Calorie
restriction, bariatric surgery, and pharmaceuticals are currently used as
therapies. However, the number of obese persons is still rising. The increased
accessibility of meals high in calories is one of several variables that
contribute to weight gain.
More than 1.9 billion persons worldwide were overweight
in 2016, and 650 million of them were obese, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Between 1975 and 2016, the prevalence of obesity in the world tripled.
In the United States, almost 40% of adults suffer from
obesity, while more than a quarter do so in the United Kingdom.
It is well recognised that obesity is unhealthy. Many dangers
associated with obesity are listed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), including increased mortality, high blood pressure, stroke
and diabetes.
A report published in August 2022 gave the following
warning: “Given dire implications in terms of comorbidities and mortality,
updated epidemiological findings call for coordinated actions from local and
regional governments, the scientific community and individual patients alike,
as well as the food industry for the obesity pandemic to be controlled and
alleviated.”
Similar to the strategies employed to battle COVID-19,
the authors recommended concerted international efforts to combat the obesity
epidemic.
What is culinary medicine?
The increased interest in the connection between food,
eating, cooking and health has given rise to culinary medicine. It has been
called "a new evidence-based field in medicine that combines the science
of medicine with the art of food and cookery."
A premium, customised diet is used in culinary medicine
to prevent and treat illness and preserve wellness. The objective is to make it
possible for people to consume food and drink in a safe and efficient manner to
achieve desired health results.
It's not a novel idea to use food as medicine, and in
some cases, altering eating habits can be just as successful as taking
medication.
For example, rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with
an anti-inflammatory diet, while type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can
be prevented with the Mediterranean diet, which places an emphasis on fruits,
vegetables, olive oil, legumes, and whole grains and excludes ultra-processed
foods and meat.