A new plan has been launched to reverse the increase in childhood obesity in the World Health Organization (WHO) European region.
The Zagreb Declaration was adopted by the spouses of 16 European leaders and heads of state as they launched the first Network of Spouses of European leaders on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity in the WHO European Region.
According to the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022, about one in three primary school-aged children in the Region, which covers 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, are living with obesity or are overweight.
However, the World Obesity Atlas 2023, which was published by the World Obesity Federation, suggests that between 2020 and 2035, there will be a 61% increase in the number of boys living with obesity and a 75% increase in the number of girls living with obesity. This would mean 17 million boys and 11 million girls aged five-19 living with obesity in the WHO European Region in 2035.
Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said: “Our children are increasingly growing up in environments that make it very difficult for them to eat well and be active. This is a root cause of the obesity epidemic.”
They gathered in Croatia to launch the roadmap after an invitation by Professor Dr Sanja Musić Milanović, professor at the Medical School of the University of Zagreb and wife of Zoran Milanović, the fifth president of Croatia.
She said: “Childhood obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions, and Croatia, along with our entire European region, is among the most affected.
“It is a disease that not only negatively affects the health, quality of life and life expectancy of our population, but also represents a significant economic burden for our society. It is estimated that in Croatia, as well as in the entire European region, more than 2% of GDP goes to obesity-related costs.
“Here, at the Zagreb Summit, we have had the opportunity to clearly demonstrate that obesity knows no borders – it is our common problem, and we can only approach it together, at the European level, including numerous sectors of society.
“I believe that the Zagreb Declaration is an important step for halting the rise of childhood obesity in the entire European Region and that with joint action we will improve and preserve the health of future generations.”
“Any national policies aiming to address the issues of overweight and obesity must have high-level political commitment behind them. They should also be comprehensive, reaching individuals across the life course and targeting inequalities.”
The spouses attending the summit were from: Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkiye.
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