Third of Moroccans are obese

Many moroccan women lack excercise Casablanca - Khawla Boslam The Moroccan General Authority for Planning revealed on Thursday that 3.6 million Moroccans suffer from obesity. Three million Moroccans are grossly overweight while 600,000 have are within the danger zone of obesity. Women make-up 26.8 percent of the obese individuals – with housewives and the elderly at the most risk due to lack of physical activity. Researchers say the number notably increasing with age. According to the study, the level and prevalence of obesity varies from region to region in Morocco. Urban areas, such as Greater Casablanca have a high rate of food consumption and increasingly worsening food habits. Individuals who carry an excess of weight are susceptible to developing heart and liver disease and high blood pressure. Morocco is not in top ten list of countries in the world with the highest obesity rates, but it ranks third in Africa. Nutritionist and editor of the monthly magazine Macrobiotics, Habiba Mtiot explained that obesity is the result of an accumulation of extra fat that is stored up due to overeating and lack of physical exercise. Mtiot added that the emergence of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension blood, as well as some types of cancer in Moroccan society is due to being overweight. She asserted the importance of drinking water and eating enough healthy vitamins and minerals to avoid putting on weight, while still feeling full. Mtiot told Arabstoday that physiotherapists aim to deter patients from opting to have surgery as a first resort.  She said that individuals should accept their illness and deal with it as a “friend not an enemy”.  This she says will help people reach their goals and ideal weight – with the help of exercise and healthy eating. Approximately 1.6 billion adults (15 years and older) are overweight, and at least 400 million adults suffer from obesity, according to The World Health Organisation. Obesity has become the cause of at least 2.6 million people every year.