Recent figures on obesity from the WHO (World Health Organization) are not very encouraging. 59% of European adults are overweight or obese. In Belgium, women do slightly better than the European average (51.4%), but men do worse (67.6% weigh too much).
Worldwide, almost 2 billion adults are overweight, 650 million of whom are obese. Between 1975 and 2016 the number of people with obesity tripled. No awareness campaign has so far succeeded in reversing this alarming trend. Obesity used to be regarded as a ‘disease of the rich’, but we now also see this condition in poorer countries, especially in urban areas.
We all know that obesity is a disease with a negative impact on the heart, liver, kidneys, joints and fertility. Obesity leads to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, various types of cancer and a range of mental health conditions.
Overweight, obesity and the diseases associated with them are largely preventable. A fundamental condition for reducing obesity is a supportive environment: by making sure that healthy food and regular physical activity are literally and figuratively within everyone’s reach, the healthiest choice also becomes the easiest choice.
Governments in all countries must make healthy food more visible and accessible, and do the opposite for unhealthy food:
- Raise taxes on soft drinks.
- Strictly limit the marketing of fatty and sugary foods to children.
- Promote healthy food to children using marketing techniques.
- Create more space in cities and towns for safe walking and cycling.
- Teach children a healthy lifestyle at school from an early age.
The World Health Organization is currently preparing a large, unprecedented action plan to halt obesity and tackle the epidemic on a global scale. The plan includes the following proposals:
- Stricter regulation of the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks aimed mainly at children.
- Tax incentives to promote healthy food.
- Clear guidelines for food labelling.
- Strict guidelines for schools and their immediate surroundings regarding the availability of sugary and fatty foods.
- Awareness campaigns and information sessions on healthy eating and physical activity.
- A fixed standard and guidelines for physical activity and active outings in schools.
- Integration of obesity prevention and weight management into primary care, with referral to specialised healthcare professionals where necessary.
- All this will be supported by information brochures, short videos, public TV broadcasts, websites, social media campaigns and so on.