© Hollandse Hoogte / Michiel Wijnbergh Photography
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More than half of adults in Europe are overweight or obese. Among children, almost one in three in European countries is obese. This is evident from the European Regional Obesity Report 2022 of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday. “Alarming results,” said Hans Kluge, regional director for WHO Europe. “There is urgent need for action at local, regional and national level.”
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gjsBron: BELGIAN
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About 59 percent of the adult population in the WHO Europe region is overweight or obese. There is also a clear difference between men (63 percent) and women (54 percent). But obesity rates among children have also skyrocketed in recent decades. For example, almost one in three children suffers from it, with a slight difference between boys (29 percent) and girls (27 percent).
The Belgian average for overweight adults is 59.5 percent. The average for men is even higher (67.6 percent) compared to the European average. That of women, on the other hand, is lower at 51.4 percent. The average of the children is also lower (25.5 percent).
Heart and vascular disease
People who are obese also have a greater chance of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, but also cancer. Overweight and obesity are one of the leading causes of death in Europe, with an estimated 1.2 million deaths each year. That corresponds to 13 percent of the total mortality.
Still, a lot of work is needed to tackle obesity and overweight. For example, no country in WHO Europe is on track to meet the WHO target of ending the disease by 2025. The WHO therefore calls on the authorities to make extra efforts in their health policy.
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