THE CZECH REPUBLIC: Obesity is becoming the world's biggest health problem, experts said yesterday, as they called for the newly expanded European Union to make fighting the flab a priority.
They are pushing for controls on marketing and television advertising for children and a labelling scheme to distinguish which foods should be eaten as part of a healthy diet.
"Obesity has now become a strong candidate for being the No 1 health problem mankind is facing," said Prof Claude Bouchard, president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.
He was among experts at a conference in Prague who are pressing the European Union to take action.
A co-ordinated strategy including more funding for research is essential to tackle the growing epidemic, they say.
"Effective prevention and management strategies are needed," Prof Vojtech Hainer said. "Even a small reduction in weight can lead to significant improvements in co-morbidities," he added, referring to illnesses such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes which are linked to obesity.
The prevalence of obesity has increased by 10-40 per cent in the majority of European countries in the past 10 years, according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF).
Central Europe has the highest rates of obesity within the newly expanded EU, and Prof Hainer said more collaboration with western European countries will be needed to tackle it.
The experts called for a common public health policy for the European Union and the establishment of an EU agency with powers to tackle the prevention of obesity and related illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Money allocated for obesity research is only a fraction of what is spent on other illnesses and amounts to about €1 or $1 per capita, according to Bouchard.
"If the level of funding was increased by 5 per cent it would have a dramatic impact," Prof Hainer added.
The first European guidelines for managing obesity, which were announced at the conference, stressed the importance of a balanced diet and exercise and of setting realistic weight-loss goals. - (Reuters)