Turkey's first 'Weight Management Park' has opened

Turkey's first park project focusing on weight management, the 'Weight Management Point', is meeting Istanbul residents at Abbasağa Park. Prepared to draw attention to the effects of obesity and excess weight on health and to emphasize the importance of adopting an active lifestyle, the 'Weight Management Point' project was brought to life with the unconditional support of Novo Nordisk and in collaboration with the Turkish Association for the Study of Obesity (TOAD) and Beşiktaş Municipality. The press conference held for the project's introduction was attended by Beşiktaş Municipal Council Deputy Speaker Özge Önsen Belen, TOAD General Secretary Assoc. Prof. Dr. Feray Akbaş, and Novo Nordisk Turkey General Manager Jens Pii Olesen.

Within the scope of the project, which is a first in Turkey, a 'Weight Management Point' has been created in Abbasağa Park, one of Istanbul's largest parks. Boards containing useful information and highlighting the effects of obesity and excess weight on health have been placed in this area, which was created to contribute to increasing social awareness. At the same time, special videos have been prepared for the correct and effective use of the exercise equipment found in parks to encourage an active lifestyle routine, which has an important place in weight management. The videos, which can be accessed by scanning the QR codes placed on the exercise equipment in Abbasağa Park, can also be watched on the website buissandigindanbuyuk.com.

ASSOC. PROF. DR. AKBAŞ: “OBESITY IS A SERIOUS AND CHRONIC DISEASE”

In her speech at the press conference, TOAD General Secretary Assoc. Prof. Dr. Feray Akbaş drew attention to the effects of obesity and excess weight on health and shared the following information:

“According to World Health Organization data, 813 million adults worldwide are struggling with obesity. There is also a critical picture for Turkey. We know that 1 in every 3 people in our country is obese, and 1 is overweight. Unfortunately, obesity can be perceived by society as a condition that arises as a result of individuals' lack of willpower or wrong choices and only affects physical appearance. However, obesity is a serious and chronic disease that occurs as a result of many genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors. The most important message we want to give to the public, especially as physicians, is that individuals with obesity and excess weight must receive support from a physician for weight management. Because when obesity and excess weight are not treated, they can negatively affect almost all organs and systems in our body and even shorten life expectancy. Obesity and excess weight increase the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, and 13 different types of cancer, and can also trigger diseases that affect mental health, such as depression. Therefore, do not delay your treatment and do not hesitate to talk about this issue with your physician.”

ASSOC. PROF. DR. AKBAŞ: “REGULAR EXERCISE MAKES A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO WEIGHT LOSS IN OBESITY”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akbaş, who also provided information about the benefits of regular exercise and the importance of the ‘Weight Management Point’ project, said:

“We know that proper nutrition and exercise have an important place in the prevention and management of obesity and excess weight. Research proves that regular exercise makes a significant contribution to weight loss and that every kilogram lost has a huge impact on quality of life. For example, even a 5 to 10 percent weight loss supports a reduction in the risk of diabetes and deaths related to cardiovascular diseases, improvements in blood lipids, blood pressure, and sleep apnea, and in short, an improvement in quality of life. At this very point, I think the exercise videos we prepared within the scope of the ‘Weight Management Point’ project play an important role in supporting and encouraging people to exercise correctly, effectively, and regularly. Preventive medicine is an important part of our work. Therefore, not only individuals who are overweight or obese but anyone who wants to maintain their normal weight and lead a healthy life can benefit from this opportunity.”

ASSOC. PROF. DR. AKBAŞ: “TAKE ACTION UNDER PHYSICIAN SUPERVISION FOR AN APPROPRIATE EXERCISE PROGRAM AND HEALTHY WEIGHT MANAGEMENT”

Stating that there is also a board in the area created in Abbasağa Park that draws attention to Body Mass Index (BMI) values, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akbaş said; “By scanning the QR code on this board, you can access the BMI calculator on the buissandigindanbuyuk.com website and find out if you are in a healthy weight range. I would like to remind those who notice that their BMI calculation is outside the normal range that they should definitely consult a physician for healthy weight management and take action under physician supervision,” she said.

OLESEN: “IN OUR 30TH YEAR, LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT THAT WILL BENEFIT PUBLIC HEALTH IS VERY VALUABLE TO US”

Sharing his views on the project, Novo Nordisk Turkey General Manager Jens Pii Olesen said, “We all have important duties in the formation of a healthy society. As Novo Nordisk Turkey, a leading company working to improve the health of individuals with obesity, it is truly very valuable for us to leave such a lasting impact that will benefit public health in our 30th year,” and continued his words as follows:

“Last March, we launched the ‘Bu İş Sandığından Büyük’ (This is Bigger Than You Think) campaign to draw attention to the fact that obesity and excess weight have much greater effects on psychological and physical health, social life, and quality of life than is thought. The ‘Weight Management Point’ project, which is a continuation of our campaign, was brought to life with the contributions of TOAD to emphasize the importance of adopting an active lifestyle, which is an important part of weight management. We are very happy and excited to share our project, which we have implemented in Abbasağa Park, with the residents of Beşiktaş and all Istanbulites.”

OLESEN: “DO NOT WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO WARM UP TO EXERCISE”

“The only reason for excess weight and obesity is not eating too much or moving too little. Many factors such as genetic, psychological, environmental, and social factors affect our weight. Although an active lifestyle is not enough on its own, it is an important part of holistic weight management. With our project, which draws attention to the importance of an active lifestyle, we want to give the message: ‘There is no specific season or month for weight management and healthy living. Do not wait for the weather to warm up to exercise. You can continue an active lifestyle in the winter months and make this habit a part of your life.’ Because the management of obesity and excess weight requires long-term treatment and permanent lifestyle changes,” said Olesen, adding:

“One of the most important goals of our project is to support people in the correct and effective use of the exercise equipment in the parks. For this purpose, we prepared a video series under the guidance of the valuable experts of the Turkish Association for the Study of Obesity and with the participation of a sports instructor. These videos were filmed to be suitable for 3 different levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. People using this exercise equipment will be able to watch the videos by scanning the QR code on the equipment and exercise accompanied by an expert. Besides these, we know that reaching the right information is important for healthy weight management. For this reason, we have placed many special boards at the ‘Weight Management Point’ we created in Abbasağa Park. Those who walk and exercise in this park will be able to reach accurate and up-to-date information about obesity and excess weight through our boards. I would also like to state that we share our project not only with Abbasağa Park visitors but with all of Turkey via the buissandigindanbuyuk.com website. Everyone who visits our site can access both our exercise videos and our informative and useful content.”

BEŞİKTAŞ MUNICIPAL COUNCIL DEPUTY SPEAKER BELEN: “WE PRIORITIZE PUBLIC HEALTH”

Speaking at the meeting, Beşiktaş Municipal Council Deputy Speaker Özge Önsen Belen said, “With this project we have implemented, we once again demonstrate that our Beşiktaş is not just a district, but also a center for a healthy and happy life. We are coming together with projects that prioritize public health and will shape our future.” Pointing out that the Weight Management Point they implemented in Abbasağa Park is not just an innovation, but also a symbol of their determination to spread the awareness of healthy living to society, Belen said, “We are here to reduce the effects of obesity and excess weight on health, to mobilize individuals, and to encourage healthy habits. With this project, our parks are now becoming areas that provide guidance for a conscious life, not just for resting. The informative videos and interactive content we have prepared for you to benefit more from the exercise equipment are designed to add value to both you and our future. We will continue to work for our neighbors in Beşiktaş to lead a healthier and happier life. Because we believe that health is the most fundamental cornerstone of a strong society. Together, we are building a healthier, more conscious Beşiktaş,” she said.

ABOUT NOVO NORDISK:

Founded in 1923, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk is one of the world's leading global healthcare companies. Aiming to lead the change to defeat serious chronic diseases with the strong heritage it has in the field of diabetes, Novo Nordisk leads scientific breakthroughs to achieve this goal, expands access to its medicines, and carries out studies to prevent and eradicate diseases. Employing approximately 72 thousand people in 80 countries, Novo Nordisk's products reach approximately 170 countries. For more information, you can visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.