Obesity is rising in Bangladesh, as indicated by several regional and international reports. The problem lies with the predominantly carbohydrate-rich diet and lack of socio-cultural awareness in maintaining an active lifestyle through regular exercises—in the form of walking, jogging, swimming, etc. Unless the calories added via high-carb food items is properly burnt down, an individual is exposed to the risk of storing excess body fat and increasing the level of glucose and cholesterol in blood leading to numerous health complications.

We really should be careful about what we take in, and try to adapt to healthy lifestyle choices by discarding fast food and carbonated beverages and living on a fibre-rich diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. We should also maintain an active lifestyle to stay fit and prolong our working life. That said, the first step in that direction is to be aware of the problem and the next step is the decision to make those healthy choices. I think the government should also carry out awareness programmes to educate people regarding the dangers of obesity.

Saikat Kumar Basu, Canada