Prevent Disease.com - Obesity Battle Should Be EU Priority, Experts Say



		Obesity Battle Should Be EU Priority, Experts Say Obesity is becoming the world's biggest health problem experts said, as they called for the newly expanded European Union to make fighting the flab a top priority. They are pushing for controls on marketing and television advertising for children and a labeling scheme to distinguish which foods should be eaten as part of a healthy diet. "Obesity has now become a strong candidate for being the number one health problem mankind is facing," said Professor Claude Bouchard, president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. He was among experts at an obesity conference here who are pressing the EU to take action. A co-ordinated strategy including more funding for research is essential to tackle the growing epidemic, they feel. "Effective prevention and management strategies are needed," Professor Vojtech Hainer told a news conference. "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 percent 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 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. Bouchard also emphasized the need for more funding in both Europe and the United States into the causes and treatments for obesity, which accounts for about two to eight percent of total healthcare costs. Money allocated for obesity research is only a fraction of what is spent on other illnesses and amounts to about one euro or $1 per capita, according to Bouchard. "If the level of funding was increased by five percent it would have a dramatic impact," he added. The first European guidelines for managing obesity, which were launched at the conference, stressed the importance of a balanced diet and exercise and setting realistic weight loss goals. A five to 15 percent weight loss is realistic and has proven health benefits. Reducing calories by about 600 a day would lead to a weekly weight loss of about 1.1 pounds a week, according to the guidelines. Hainer said the guidelines will provide "an essential road map" for doctors treating obese and overweight patients. About 2,500 doctors and health experts are attending the four-day meeting. Reference Source 93 For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".