In Spain, more than 14% of the population suffers from diabetes and 60% of adults are overweight. In addition, 20% of Spaniards are obese.
According to a report from the European Union, 67.000 people have died in Spain because of tobacco. This represents 16% of the total deaths. But also, the poor diet is responsible for about 52.000 deaths annually. This is equivalent to 12% of the total deaths in our country. ANDThe sedentary lifestyle also claims about 9.500 annual lives (2% of the total). In short, the report says that Spaniards live longer than other Europeans, but we do it with more diseases and with more disabilities. This is so now, but the report emphasizes that these bad habits will dethrone Spain from its Life expectancy In a short time.
Obesity and diabetes in Canary Islands: alarming data
In Canary Islandsthe situation is alarming. We are the autonomous community that more cases of diabetes and obesity have. And the most worrying thing is that we are in the highest ranking of childhood obesity not only in Spain, but throughout Europto. According to the latest studies, a 44,2% of Canarian children are overweight.
What is the real problem of this whole situation?
La poor diet and sedentary lifestyle directly has become a public health problem. The latest statistics from UNICEF (which has prepared a report on the situation in Spain, together with the Gasol Foundation), reflect that 1 in 5 Canarian children suffer from obesity, a chronic disease that significantly worsens the quality of life and increases the risk of suffering, among others, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes.
For their part, the people diabetics they have, on average, a minor life expectancy that people are not. This is because diabetics have a increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other processes, such as certain types of Cancer. Diabetes is directly responsible for 1 in 5 heart attacks and 1 in 7 strokes.
Healthy habits in childhood
Therefore, according to experts, the childhood constitutes a crucial stage for the establishment of healthy habits and avoid developing an obesity (which in most cases persists until adolescence and, in many cases, until maturity).
So worrying are these data, that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published for the first time a Guide on Physical Activity, Sedentary and Dream for Children from Zero to Four years. From the year on, it recommends doing at least three hours of physical activity a day; no screen time until two years, and from that age, as little as possible, with a maximum daily time.
Healthy habits in Canary Islands, what measures could be taken?
In the words of the Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the ULPGC, Lluis Serra, during his appearance at the Parliamentary Health Commission last year in Canary Islands, just by changing the eating habits you could avoid 4.000 deaths annually for heart attack, 8.500 cases of diabetes, 3.500 arteriopathies and other 3.500 arrhythmias in people over 55 years; something that no medication could ever get.
Canary Islands need a firm food policy and decided, to promote and coordinate a set of actions from different administrations in favor of a healthy, supportive, sovereign and sustainable food model. This requires the joint action of public authorities, civil society, private sector and media.
Promote the Mediterranean diet and daily exercise, especially in children and young people is of vital importance so that we can preserve the health and future of the new generations.
In addition, in Canary Islands we are lucky not only to locally produce all the ingredients of the Mediterranean diet, but also to have an environment and a climate that gives us the possibility of being able to spend more time abroad and, therefore, to be able to do more daily physical exercise.
