Abstract
World Health Organization defines obesity as “excessive fat accumulation at a level that may impair health”. Obesity is also officially defined as a “disease” by many surgical and endocrine societies (1,2), and also accepted as a risk factor for some cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as many chronic diseases (2). Although the degree of accuracy is debated, obesity is still defined as a body mass index (BMI) above 30 (1).
Obesity, which was alarming in western countries in the past, is currently a public health problem that concerns the whole world, except for a few southern African and Asian countries (1). Preventive measures are important in tackling the public health problem. In this context, an active life and low-calorie nutrition are accepted as basic preventive practices.