Azore Opio
24 August 2008
Two bio-medical scientists of the Higher Institute of Applied Medical Sciences, IAMS, Saturday 8, at the Catholic Mission Library, Buea, gave a lecture on obesity.
While also launching the 2008/2009 academic year, Michael A. G. Boyo, senior clinical biochemist and IAMS founder, and Godfrey Esoh Nji, biomedical scientist, lectured on obesity under the theme "The Effects of What We Eat and Do on Our Health in the Future."
They harped on our daily eating habits and activities; why we increase weight, linking its gain to health problems; how to know if we are at risk of developing problems in the future and what to do if we are at risk.
According to the bio-medical scientists, obesity is caused by factors such as consuming diets high in fat and calories, and being sedentary.They said an imbalance between calories consumed and calories burned can also be caused by different obesity-related factors like genetic, hormonal, behavioral, environmental and even cultural influences.
Besides these factors, the bio-medics delved into the mechanisms of metabolism, appetite and satiety and their connection to obesity; eating disorders and metabolic syndrome.
According to Boyo and Esoh, medical research has established that, obesity can lead to dementia, blindness, bad breath, waist circumference (abdominal obesity) asthma, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, hypertension, [stroke, heart disease, diabetes, increased fats in the body (higher cholesterol levels), gallbladder disease, gout, some types of cancer and osteoarthritis (stiffness and soreness of joints, especially the knees, that may occur with aging) Courtesy of Adult Health Advisor 2005.4].
Although all these sound frightening, there are ways of avoiding to develop obesity - eating smart and regular: consuming less calories than we burn. In other words, we should modify our eating habits; controlling what and how much we eat, and not food controlling our lives.
A combination of lots of vegetables, grains, fruits, olive oil and wine is probably one of the most balanced diets to help avoid obesity.
On the other hand, eating at regular intervals, every three-four hours, helps to keep blood sugar levels stable. And the main goal is to keep unwanted fat away.This, coupled with regular physical exercise can help to avoid obesity.
While launching the new academic year, IAMS added another dimension to training nurses - teaching the English language for beginners.In this vein, IAMS graduated 16 pioneer students - all from Equatorial-Guinea - after nine months of intensive training.
The Chairman of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Sylvester Ndeso Atanga, handed over the certificates.Two of the best students; Andreas Enoch and Mercedes Paye Falenh were awarded prizes.
To crown the launching of the academic year, IAMS also launched free screening for obesity, hypertension and diabetes for the first 1000 people during August and September at its premises on Malingo Street, opposite Kingdom Hall.
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