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Obesity:

Breaking the cycle of Turkey’s Organization www.biotecheurasia.com

shame in Turkey new logo Turkey’s First

introduced Biomedicine and Genome

In Turkey, more than 30
percent of all adults over
19 years old are extremely at Center is Opened
“I always felt ashamed whenever I overweight and over 300 and Laparoscopic Surgery in Istanbul,
looked in the mirror, but it all started million people are obese said sugars and fast food are the most ceremony
when my 5-year-old daughter joked around the word. Despite the deadly factors that lead to obesity and
about my weight and called me fat. increasing trend, physicians a range of health problems, including complete a national biomedical
For the first time that day, I took a hard encourage and praise different types of cancer, diabetes and research center on the health
look in the mirror and hated what I overweight people who heart diseases. campus.
saw.” As a result, Aysel Filiz Güler, a make inspiring efforts to get According to the Health Ministry, fast In September 2014, to become
39-year-old mother, has an inspiring food is becoming the most preferred Turkey’s first Biomedicine an international research center
and life-saving weight loss success healthier. dietary lifestyle among people in and Genome Center is of excellence whose mission is to
story that could encourage others to Turkey, especially among children and discover and advance knowledge
embark on a journey like hers. adolescents. Fast food is a type of officially opened in İzmir for the benefit of society, public
Güler is just one of thousands of In Turkey, more than 30 percent “inadequate and imbalanced nutrition on 9-11 September 2015. health, and economic prosperity,
Turkish people - and millions of people of all adults over 19 years old are that is high in caffeine, unsaturated fats the project was approved and
worldwide - who has experienced the considered extremely overweight, and sodium while low in fiber, Vitamins announced in the Official Gazette
physical and emotional consequences according to a 2013 study conducted A and C and calcium,” the ministry
of obesity. Having been fed up with by the Health Ministry. A total of 35 reported. A new logo, “Turkey; discover
being overweight, Güler saw her percent of Turkish adults fell into the In addition, traditional Turkish foods the potential” that will replace
weight fall from 104 kilograms to 61 overweight category while 33 percent are high in calories - namely, “simit” the old “Made in Turkey”
kilograms in just 15 months, marking of them were classified as “normal” (Turkish bagel) and bread, which is
an epic journey for the Istanbul native. and 2 percent as “slim,” according to consumed daily with every meal. The symbol on exported Turkish
Having struggled with her weight since BMI classifications. Also, according to ministry stressed that 44 percent of the goods was introduced at a
she was 15 years old, Güler said her the World Health Organization (WHO), daily calorie intake of people in Turkey ceremony attended at the
desire to become a healthy mother which has recognized obesity as a is derived from bread alone. Turkish Exporters Assembly
became the driving force behind her disease since 1997, more than 1.1 Güler said during her weight-loss (TİM) in İstanbul on Sunday.
weight loss. “Children can sometimes billion adults are currently overweight journey, her dietitian suggested that The logo was jointly prepared BIOTechnOlOgy
be brutally honest. My daughter’s and over 300 million are obese. she change her nutritional habits by TİM and the Economy
frankness made me grow concerned A sedentary lifestyle and consuming and adopt a more vegetarian diet or Ministry. & lIFe ScIenceS
about my own weight,” Güler told fast food are the two most common vegetable-rich diet to lower the risk of
Anadolu Agency (AA). Güler said she causes of obesity, experts say. Güler obesity. “In 15 months, I consumed Speaking at the ceremony,
never considered herself obese: “But said she spends her days behind a milk, yogurt, meat, fresh fruits and Erdoğan said it was a good InDUSTRy eXhIBITIOn
then, I had to face the ugly truth that desk as an accountant: “Actually, vegetables, and exercised regularly. choice to use the “discover Dokuz Eylul University Izmir as Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir
adults with a body mass index (BMI) of I previously made many attempts I also tried to avoid salty or sugary the potential” phrase with the Biomedicine and Genome Biomedicine and Genome Center
30 or over are considered obese - and to alter my appearance. I thought treats. I stopped buying junk food logo but it is better to use the Center (iBG-izmir) started to (iBG-izmir). st rd
mine was 35.” exercise would solve the problem,” because I knew that if it was in my be established with the name 21 -23 APRIL
she said. “I enrolled in a gym, and kept kitchen, I would eat it.”A 2014 study of word’s Turkish counterpart in “International Biomedicine and In the meantime, Dokuz Eylül
According to Professor Nazif Bağıaçık, going for three or four weeks but then around 2,900 British adults conducted the translation. Genome Center-Izmir (iBG-izmir) University Senate approved the ISTANBUL TURKEY 2016
president of the Turkish Association for I would quit. I had even considered over four years revealed that Project” within ¨Bio-Izmir¨ Science establishment of an institute (Izmir
the Study of Obesity, being overweight having gastric bypass surgery in 2011 people who are exposed to “weight “To be frank, I think it would and Technology Park, which is the Biomedicine and Genome Institute)
is becoming a severe health problem because I could not stop eating junk discrimination” are more likely to gain be more appropriate to use result of the innovative partnership within the structure of the center ICEC Lütfi Kırdar International
in Turkey as well as across the globe. food or pastries.” weight than those who are not. Thus, in the translation of the of Dokuz Eylul University Health and applied to the Council of Higher Congress and Exhibition Center
“Turkey ranks 21st among European However, a recent United Kingdom Bağrıaçık said the fight against obesity Turkish word “güç” (strength) Campus, Faculty of Medicine & Education (YOK).
countries in terms of the rate of study conducted in 2015 revealed should be continuous and resolute: instead of the word potential,” University Hospital, and the Health
obesity, and is a country where the that, while exercise is helpful, alone it “The public, school officials and family Erdoğan said. He introduced Technology Park (DEPARK). iBG-izmir will be the first regional
prevalence of rising obesity rates has is not enough to lose weight. Physical members must be warned by the press the logo after his speech. The project was created as an hub, located in Izmir, Turkey’s
increased the most since the beginning activity is useful in diminishing the risk and on television,” he added. innovative translational research third largest city and a critical
of this century,” Bağıaçık told AA. He of developing heart disease, diabetes, The government has also initiated The president said the logo center in 2003. locomotive for the growing Media Sponsors
added that the prevalence of obesity cancer, and other illnesses, but it programs to address the increasing of Turkey is as important as Turkish economy, particularly
is 12 percent to 15 percent in Turkish does not promote weight loss alone, obesity rates. In 2012, the Health the symbol of the Turkish lira. It was first funded by the revolving within the health sector. This
children between the ages of 7 to the study claimed. “I had to recognize Ministry launched health and dietary funds of Dokuz Eylul University comprehensive regional hub will
14, 27 percent to 28 percent in adult that limiting foods that are high in fat plans as well as television and He said people in any part and after the concept of a be multidisciplinary in approach Contact:
males and 32 percent to 35 percent in and sugar along with regular physical newspaper advertisements aimed at of the world will know that a translational research center was and shall bring molecular biology, +90 242 316 46 00 Mr. Fatih Onkar, +90 216 541 03 90 Mrs. Rabia Alga
adult females in Turkey. “This is the activity is the key to long-term weight fighting obesity. The ministry also product having this logo was presented to the Turkish State genetics, medicine, pharmaceutical fatih@yapex.com rabia@antexpo.net
sciences, bioengineering, computer
third-biggest health problem affecting loss,” Güler said. distributed pedometers through family produced in Turkey. Planning Organization, it was THIS FAIR IS ORGANIZED WITH THE AUDIT OF TOBB (THE UNION OF CHAMBERS AND
human society around the world,” he Professor Emin Ersoy, president of doctors encouraging people to walk officially agreed to be provided engineering, and many other fields COMMODITY EXCHANGES OF TURKEY) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW NO.5174
together.
said. the Turkish Association of Endoscopic regularly and record how far they walk. approximately with $58 million to