It is summer again – a holiday and bikini period. We have prepared ourselves for it via long diets and attempts to lose some pounds. The warm months are the most suitable time frame for people with overweight, as those provide outdoor sports opportunities, along with ones for balanced meals with fresh vegetables and fruits.

The Bulgarians are among the European nations, affected by overweight and obesity. It causes concern that the issue can now be often spotted very early, in the childhood period. Data of the Bulgarian Association for the Study of Obesity and Related Diseases say that the phenomenon has doubled in size among kids over the past decade only. The explanation: local traditions in eating have already been violated. The so-called fast food is used more and more often and that increases body weight in a sustainable manner. Packed food with unhealthy ingredients touches our tables more and more regularly, via different marketing tricks and discounts. One can observe a similar effect at fast food restaurants. Those places really enjoy the interest of parents and their children, despite all warnings on the obesity danger.

“The Bulgarians get fatter and sicker, 25 percent of adult people here suffer from obesity, while 58 percent have overweight and this is a serious medical and social problem,” says Prof. Svetoslav Handjiev, chair of the Bulgarian Association for the Study of Obesity.

“People with overweight should think of it far before the summer, in order for their efforts to have any results. We, experts recommend walking above all – some 50 – 60 minutes per day. It would be nice to add cycling, swimming, jogging and any mountain walk possibility to that. Sofia’s citizens have the advantage of the Vitosha Mountain situated nearby. I would like to underline the concrete Bulgarian contribution to the cure of obesity. These are the healing dances, the so-called choreotherapy. Long years of research have proven that two hours of dancing per week result in weight loss, improving the psychological tonus as well. It is important that the patient starts feeling better quickly and that is why dances are compulsory for institutions that fight with obesity. Overweight can cause cardio-vascular diseases. By healing the extra kilos we prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, heart strokes, apoplexy and many other diseases,” Prof. Handjiev goes on to say.

The global overweight pandemic is now a fact due to the globalization process. The issue affects even smaller countries that have also changed their eating traditions. That is why, according to Prof. Handjiev, obesity prevention should start as early as the initial 1,000 days of a child’s development.

“We, doctors, talk on prevention from the moment of conception to the second year. It has been proven that if a future mom wants a healthy and slim baby, she shouldn't gain more than 14 to 20 kg before giving birth. The health of the child depends on the mother’s way of living. For the purposes of prevention our association has carried out for a three years in a row now a Health School for kids, parents and teachers at the Albena Resort. Those learn how to live a healthy life, with walks, swimming etc. The results are very quick. The school is under the auspices of the ministry of education and has already attracted the attention of Bulgarian and foreign experts. Our goal is that experience to be spread across the country.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev