Heart attack, stroke, diabetes are just a few of the serious illnesses we increasingly face, including due to excess weight. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is not easy, say specialists, but psychological counseling can help those struggling with their diet. Psychotherapy sessions can be free with a referral from a specialist doctor.

At the age of 23, Anastasia recounts that she had weight problems since childhood.

Anastasia: "I used to eat in secret. I enjoyed chips, soft drinks, until I reached a peak weight of 86 kg".

She followed a diet prescribed by a doctor, and in a few months, she lost over 20 kilograms.

Experts warn that a child who tends to gain weight from kindergarten, unchecked, is likely to become obese before finishing primary school. The Obesity Atlas launched by the World Health Organization warns that by 2035, two out of five children will be overweight or obese.

Anca Pantea Stoian, primary diabetes specialist: "Children will not choose a healthy sandwich, they will choose a sweet, they will choose a fizzy drink. If the family's typical behavior is sedentary, sitting in front of the TV with a popcorn bowl in hand and fizzy drink in the evening while watching a movie, the child will have exactly the same behavior".

Prof. Dr. Dragoș Vinereanu, primary cardiology specialist: "According to WHO, in the next decade, we will witness a prevalence of 35-36%. The future is here, in Romania it is 36%. This needs to be discussed in schools. While it's positive that we have medications available, it's equally crucial to focus on lifestyle changes".

The causes of obesity can be multiple: excessive and unhealthy eating, genetic factors, stress, certain medications, irregular sleep, hormonal problems. Obesity is a disease itself, but also a risk factor for other serious conditions. It affects the heart; fats accumulate on the walls of the arteries that nourish the heart muscle, leading to a heart attack over time. Subsequently, fat may accumulate in the blood vessels of the neck and brain, causing blockages that can result in a stroke. Additionally, obesity is linked to diabetes, fatty liver, kidney issues, and can initiate metabolic syndrome.

Prof. Dr. Cătălina Poiană, an endocrinology specialist: "Once obesity sets in, a whole series of adaptive mechanisms appear, making it very difficult to lose weight or gain weight easily. Obesity is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by frequent relapses".

In an effort to mitigate these issues, the University of Medicine in Bucharest has initiated the "Control Obesity" campaign, aiming to educate individuals on healthy eating habits and the importance of regular exercise.

Some companies support their employees in this regard, including by encouraging them to participate in various competitions.

Narcisa Lăzăroiu, marketing representative: "We motivate our colleagues to join in by arranging several training sessions before the competition and covering their entry fees. This initiative has allowed us to collectively run over 2,000 kilometers".

Florin Molocea, IT project manager: "It's also one of the reasons why I joined this company. To improve my health and achieve greater balance".

Alexandra Hermeneanu, programmer: "It stimulates and motivates me to get out of the house".

Employees are also reimbursed for their expenses related to mountain hikes.