MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Obesity, EU's main public health challenge

Overweight and obesity levels are increasing at an alarming rate within the European Union, with over a quarter of men and a third of women considered obese in some countries, the European Commission warned this week.

The EU's executive arm presented the results of a major public consultation on diet and exercise, prompted in part by the 14 million overweight children in Europe of whom over three million are considered obese.

"Up to 27% of European men and 38% of women (are) now considered to be obese depending on the EU member state concerned," the Commission said in a statement. The highest prevalence of overweight children is found in southern European countries at around 20-35% as opposed to 10-20% in northern Europe.

"This is now an urgent public health issue requiring coordinated action at EU level, as well as within member states," the Commission said.

According to the consultation's results, it is necessary to increase the availability of healthy foods in canteens or in vending machines, reduce the availability of foods that are high in fat and sugar and to promote sports and other physical activity.

There were also calls for better and clearer consumer information on nutrition.

EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said: "The prevalence of obesity has been rising fast in Europe and there is already evidence that this is leading to increasing rates of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease."

While respondents from industry favoured self-regulation, healthcare professionals, consumer organisations and NGOs remain sceptical about the impact of self-regulation on advertising of foods high in calories but poor in nutrients.

The commission will consider the policy options "and fine-tune its action with the right balance between voluntary agreements and legislative action", its statement said.

Poor nutrition and insufficient physical activity are among the leading causes of avoidable death in Europe. Obesity-related illnesses are estimated to account for as much as seven percent of total healthcare costs in the 25-nation bloc.