In short:
In a follow-up to the global strategy adopted by the World Health Organisation to tackle obesity European experts are gathering to discuss action against this 21st-century 'epidemic'.
Brief news:
A major annual European meeting focusing on the fight against obesity is being held in Prague on 26-29 May. The conference, which brings together experts specialising in clinical treatment of obese patients and obesity research is taking place a few days after the adoption of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The global strategy was adopted by the world health body on 22 May 2004, with the aim of reducing the consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids, salt and sugars, and to increase instead the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the levels of physical activity.
At least two last-minute amendments were included in the text to appease industry, including one which notes that the strategy should not give justification for the mounting of trade barriers and another which highlights the WHO's strong commitment to addressing malnutrition.
The global strategy provides broad-ranging policy recommendations, focusing on prevention. The EU's directorate-general for public health has explained that an EU-wide network of experts on diet and physical activity has been put in place whose goal is to identify best practice in obesity prevention. A legislative proposal to tackle unsubstantiated health and nutritional claims made on food packaging is currently being discussed by the EU institutions.
"Left unchecked, rising obesity will shorten life spans and drain public resources in the future," said Public Health Commissioner David Byrne in a press release of 24 May.
Dietary factors are responsible for about 30 per cent of cancer deaths in Western Europe, according to data by the WHO. With better diet and regular physical activity, the occurrence of other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, could also be reduced.