UMI FK Lecturers Raise Public Awareness of the Dangers of Obesity and Underweight
The high number of obesity and underweight cases is not matched by sufficient public awareness to carry out initial checks on their nutritional status. Many people consider obesity and underweight to be normal.
According to WHO data, the prevalence of obesity in Indonesia has increased significantly in the last few decades. The National Health Survey (Riskesdas) in Indonesia shows that the prevalence of obesity in 2018 reached around 21.8% in the adult population, an increase from around 14% in 2023. According to Riskesdas in 2018, the prevalence of underweight in children under five years of age was around 19.6%. Although this figure shows a decrease from the previous year, malnutrition is still a significant public health problem in some areas, especially remote and poor ones. The dangers of obesity (overweight) and underweight (underweight) are two conditions that have a significant impact on individual health.
Therefore, community service activities are needed to increase awareness about the dangers of obesity and underweight, as well as encourage people to check their nutritional status, either independently or by checking themselves at health facilities.
Dr. A. Millaty Halifah Dirgahayu, M.Biomed as team leader said that people need to raise awareness to regularly monitor their weight and regulate their diet and lifestyle in order to achieve an ideal body weight. This step is expected to improve the quality of life of the community
If someone is experiencing problems with their weight, it is important to seek medical help and receive appropriate treatment. In this activity, the activities carried out are:
- Training on measuring community nutritional status includes weighing body weight and height as well as measuring BMI
- Introduction to food intake with balanced nutrition.
- Distribution of Flyers for regulating a balanced diet to prevent obesity orUnderweight
