Lifestyle Modification to Combat Adolescent Obesity

Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. 65% of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. Adolescent obesity is an issue of high importance as it tends to persist in to adulthood. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI). Unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity is key risk factors for obesity. Overweight and obesity, as well as their related non communicable diseases, are largely preventable. Lifestyle modification plays an important role in the prevention of obesity and maintenance of healthy life, which include making the healthier choice of foods, regular physical activity and behaviour modification to sustain change in lifestyle. Health education on lifestyle modification is essential to prevent obesity and ill effects in later life of adolescents.