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Review
. 2022 Jun;23(6):e13440.
doi: 10.1111/obr.13440. Epub 2022 Mar 2.

Historical and cultural aspects of obesity: From a symbol of wealth and prosperity to the epidemic of the 21st century

Marta Sumińska  1 , Rafał Podgórski  2   3 , Klaudia Bogusz-Górna  1 , Bogda Skowrońska  1 , Artur Mazur  4 , Marta Fichna  5
Affiliations
Review

Historical and cultural aspects of obesity: From a symbol of wealth and prosperity to the epidemic of the 21st century

Marta Sumińska et al. Obes Rev. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

World Health Organization defines obesity as abnormal or excess adipose tissue accumulation. Nowadays, this condition is a serious threat to the public health in most countries around the world. Obesity adversely affects physical, mental, and in most cultures, social well-being. However, throughout the ages-from ancient times to the 21st century-this condition has been subject to various interpretations. As a matter of fact, obesity has not always been regarded as a disease. For many decades, excessive body weight has been considered rather a symbol of health. It was a marker of wealth and prosperity, as well as a sign of high social status. The centuries that passed on the development of science and medicine have gradually changed its face, but significant progress in understanding the causes and consequences of obesity has been made in the last 30 years. This paper presents the historical outline of obesity and its treatment from ancient times to the present-from its affirmation to the epidemic in the late 20th and 21st century.

Keywords: culture; epidemic of the 21st century; history; obesity.

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