WHO warns EU obesity at “epidemic proportions” that “knows no borders”

04 May 2022 --- More than half of the EU’s adult population is overweight or obese, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, prompting stronger calls for tougher regulations and better nutrition labeling. 

“Obesity knows no borders. In Europe and Central Asia, no single country will meet the WHO Global noncommunicable diseases (NCD) target of halting the rise of obesity (by 2025),” says Dr. Hans Henri, WHO regional director for Europe.

The latest data reveals that overweight and obesity account for more than 1.2 million deaths in the WHO European Region–more than one of every eight deaths– but even these numbers may be underestimated according to the international organization. Specifically, 59% of adults and nearly one in three children in Europe are overweight or obese. 

“Overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the European Region,” with prevalence levels of 63% among males and 54% among females, the WHO notes. Numbers are larger in countries with higher incomes. 

The highest levels of both overweight and obesity are found in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. With only the obesity prevalence in the Region Americas having worse rates. A body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight, while 30 or above is defined as obese. 

COVID-19 and the obesity feedback loop
The pandemic has intensified and made the obesity problem more pressing as “patients with obesity are more likely to experience complications and death from the virus,” says WHO. Overweight and obese individuals also had problems, especially during lockdowns, accessing obesity management services. 

In 2020 the UK-based Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) highlighted how consumers were calling for a government plan to have a war on obesity. Patients with morbid obesity were overrepresented by 265% in intensive care units (7.7% compared to the 2.9% of the general population).

Preliminary data from the WHO suggests that people had higher exposure to obesity risk factors during the pandemic, such as sedentary lifestyles and consumption of unhealthy foods. Which, in turn, created higher health risks.

Overweight and obesity account for more than 1.2 million deaths in the WHO European Region.Obesity set to overtake smoking 
Obesity, which is a cause of 13 different types of cancer, is the fourth risk factor for death after high blood pressure, dietary risks and tobacco. In Europe, it is estimated to be directly responsible for at least 200,000 new cancer cases per year, according to WHO data.

For some countries in the European Region, it is predicted that obesity will overtake smoking as the leading risk factor for preventable cancer in the coming decades. Turkey, Malta, Israel and the UK are the countries (in this order) with more overweight people, as seen in the report.

Overweight and obesity are also the leading factors increasing the risk for disability.

A wakeup call for governments
WHO calls for this problem to be looked at from the perspective of every stage of life, such as better regulating unhealthy food and drink marketing in digital environments. This would primarily target children and adolescents, who frequent the digital space.

Fighting obesity from the early stage would be a thorough approach as children who have obesity are more likely to remain obese, according to a study by SWEET that investigated the long-term benefits and risks of dietary sweeteners in the UK. The study also found that 80% of seven-year-olds exceeded the recommended sugar intake limit. 

“Restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages and improving health system response for obesity management are currently among the most actively discussed policy areas in the WHO European Region,” says Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, acting head of the WHO European Office for the prevention and control of NCDs. 

BEUC: Governments knowA study by SWEET found that 80% of UK seven-year-olds exceeded the recommended sugar intake limit.
According to The European Consumer Organization (BEUC), these high rates of overweight and obesity in both adults and children are “no longer surprising.”

“Governments and public authorities have known for years what must be done to tackle this public health crisis; they have failed to grasp the nettle and take the truly ambitious and comprehensive actions required to prevent obesity in their populations. There are no silver bullets to solve this decades-long problem,” says Monique Goyens, director-general of BEUC. 

“From confusing nutrition labeling or promoting sugary cereals in prime locations in shops, to ads for unhealthy food targeting young children on social media platforms, everything prompts us to go for the sugary, fatty option,” continues Goyens.

Goyens proposes solutions such as making healthy food choices more widely available, attractive and affordable. She also defends systems of front-of-pack labeling, like Nutri-Score, to help consumers make healthier choices.

The EC intends to propose a harmonized nutrition labeling and food claims system by the end of 2022, following the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conclusions, which showed that saturated fats, sodium, calories, and added sugar intakes exceed dietary intake recommendations in most European populations.

Goyens agrees with WHO on how digital marketing has to be regulated.

“Action is also urgent online, where children and teenagers are targeted by unhealthy food ads day in and day out. From social media influencers promoting chocolate biscuits to salty crisps sneakily finding their way into popular online games, policymakers must crack down more effectively on these pernicious marketing techniques.”

By Marc Cervera