March 4th World Obesity Day: A Global Warning That Must Not Be Ignored
By: Ali Aminulloh
Every second our bodies are telling us: is the food we eat nourishing our lives or poisoning them? On March 4th, the world marks World Obesity Day, a wake-up call to collective awareness that obesity is more than just a weight issue; it is a growing global health crisis that threatens the lives of millions.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 8 people worldwide are now living with obesity. By 2022, approximately 2.5 billion adults will be overweight, of which 890 million will be clinically obese, a number that has more than doubled since 1990. Among children and adolescents (5–19 years), more than 390 million are now overweight, with 160 million living with obesity. Among the toddler age group (0–5 years), approximately 35 million children are also overweight.
This danger is not trivial. The WHO confirms that obesity is directly linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even some cancers: diseases that once appeared in later life, now strike before adulthood. Without serious preventative measures, this trend will exceed the limits of comfort: it is projected that more than half of adults (3.8 billion) and one-third of children and adolescents (746 million) could be overweight or obese by 2050.
Linking Obesity, Fasting, and Self-Control
Obesity is not just a statistic; it is a reflection of how we feed our bodies and who controls that choice: immediate gratification or long-term well-being.
Fasting, besides being a spiritual practice, is an exercise in appetite control, training the mind to control the stomach, not the other way around. In science, restrictive eating practices like fasting are known to increase the process of autophagy, a cellular cleansing mechanism discovered by Nobel laureate Yoshinori Ohsumi. This mechanism helps cleanse and renew the body’s cells from biological damage.
Trilogy of Consciousness: Philosophical, Ecological, Social
In the above context, Shaykh Al Zaytun emphasized the need to develop a trilogy of consciousness: philosophical, ecological, and social:
Philosophical Consciousness: Understanding the body as a trust, not merely an object of consumption.
Ecological Consciousness: Recognizing that excessive consumption patterns accelerate environmental damage through the production of unhealthy food, waste, and climate impacts.
Social Consciousness: Empathy for other communities; while some live in excess, many others still struggle with hunger.
“You Are What You Eat” and the Challenge of Junk Food
We are what we consume, and today, ultra-processed foods (junk food) are the rage: cheap, fast, and tempting. This trend fosters obesity, damages metabolism, and weakens common sense. In fact, a UNICEF report shows that the number of obese children has now surpassed that of malnourished children in many countries. This is clear evidence that malnutrition is no longer just about not eating enough, but also about eating the wrong things.
Nutrition, Faith, and a Healthier Lifestyle
Allah commands us: “Eat what is lawful and good.” The principle of lawful is not only about religious permissibility, but also about qualities that nourish the body, mind, and soul.
This guideline aligns with the vision and mission of Mahad Al Zaytun: to be a center of education, developing a culture of tolerance and peace, leading to a healthy, intelligent, and humane society.
Eating and the Future of Humanity
On this World Obesity Day, the message we must uphold is not mere statistics, but a collective awareness:
We must be conscious of what goes into our bodies, how modern food affects our health, and that health is not just about eating or not eating, but about eating with control and wisdom.
Because when we control our stomachs, we control our future. When we consciously choose healthy foods, we also strengthen our bodies, nurture our minds, and foster a holistic human spirit.
Indonesia, March 4, 2026
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