World Obesity Day was established by the World Obesity Federation in 2015 as an annual campaign. It is celebrated on October 11, with the goal of initiating and supporting practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reverse the global obesity crisis. Its mission is to lead and drive global efforts to reduce, prevent and treat obesity. World Obesity Federation represents professional members of the scientific, medical and research communities from over 50 regional and national obesity associations.

The objectives of World Obesity Day are to:

• Increase knowledge and understanding of the challenge of obesity, and what can and should be done to overcome it
• Encourage governments to take urgent action to meet their commitment to halt the rise in obesity by 2025
• Share national experiences of campaigning to enable the spread of best practices
• Encourage member associations and supporters to get involved with advocacy and campaigning on obesity related issue

Obesity is a condition where a person has accumulated abnormal or excessive body fat that causes negative effects on health. A simple measure commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults is body mass index (BMI). 

BMI is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m²). WHO identifies overweight when BMI is greater than or equal to 25; and obesity when BMI is greater or equal to 30.

The number of adults suffering from overweight and obesity continues to rise. On current trends, 2.7bn adults worldwide will suffer from overweight and obesity by 2025.

According to National Family Health Survey India-3 (NFHS-3), thirteen percent of women (15-49 Years) and nine percent of men (15-49 Years) were overweight or obese in 2005-06. Now the problem of obesity is increasing, as 21% women and 19% men are found overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2) in NFHS-4(2015-16). 

Consequences of obesity  

Untreated obesity act as a predisposing factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (heart attack and stroke), diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (osteoarthritis), some cancers (including breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon).

Investing in the prevention, management and treatment of obesity is a cost-effective action for governments and health services. Investment can help achieve the 2025 targets set by the World Health Organization to halt the rise in obesity and to achieve a 25% relative reduction in mortality from NCDs.

• Recognition that obesity is a disease and needs professional support/treatment
• Universal access to specific health services for obesity treatment 

• Specific guidelines for care and management for all people affected by overweight and obesity,
• Freely available primary health care consultations and continuing care services
• Group and individual weight management services
• Personal, family, school and workplace support

• Health promotion throughout the life course to protect the health of current and future generations
• Ensure easy access to affordable healthy food
• Education to ensure support for creating healthy environments
• Improved local neighbourhoods which support active leisure and travel.

At individual level, people can follow: 

Eating a healthy diet can help in preventing obesity-

• Limit total fat intake and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and elimination of trans fats.
• Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, pulses, whole grains, legumes and nuts
• Limit intake of sugar and salt

Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy weight-

People should engage in adequate levels of physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes spread through the week for adults). At least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity physical activity on most days reduces the risk of obesity and co-morbidities.

References-

http://www.obesityday.worldobesity.org/

https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/non-communicable-disease/obesity