British Broadcasting Corporation
7 December 2010 Last updated at 12:03 GMT
Half of Europeans are overweight, a report shows
By Michelle Roberts Health reporter, BBC News
Obesity
Healthy habits should start from a young age
Over half of adults living in the European Union countries are now overweight
or obese according to a report.
The rate of obesity has more than doubled over the past 20 years in most EU
member states, international experts say.
The UK comes out worst, shortly followed by Ireland and Malta, where a quarter
of the population is obese.
World experts meet this week to discuss how to reverse the "worrying trend".
The European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) who compiled the Health at a Glance Europe 2010 report
believe the key to success is encouraging children to adopt healthy habits.
Currently, one in seven children in the EU are overweight or obese - and the
figures are set to rise even further.
Continue reading the main story
Obesity levels in Europe
FIVE "WORST" COUNTRIES
* UK - 24.5% of adults are obese
* Ireland - 23%
* Malta - 22.3%
* Iceland - 20.1%
* Luxembourg - 20%
FIVE "BEST" COUNTRIES
* Romania - 7.9%
* Switzerland - 8.1%
* Italy - 9.9%
* Norway - 10%
* Sweden - 10.2%
Only one in five children in the EU exercise regularly. Physical activity tends
to fall between the ages of 11 and 15 in most EU Member States.
Children who are obese or overweight are more likely to suffer from poor health
later in life, with a greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, some
forms of cancer, arthritis, asthma, a reduced quality of life and even
premature death.
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, said: "In
order to reverse the growing trend in obesity and other health problems in the
EU we need reliable and up-to-date data to underpin the action we take as
policymakers.
"This is where the Health at a Glance report makes such an important
contribution and shall be a useful tool in the coming months and years."
Meanwhile, nutritionists are warning that many Africans are putting their
health at risk because they are not eating enough fruit and vegetables.
A United Nations conference has heard that diseases such as diabetes and
obesity are becoming as great a cause for concern for the continent as
malnutrition.
Research suggests that more than one-third of African women and a quarter of
African men are overweight.
Obesity chart
More on This Story
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