The annual European obesity conference, on 6-7 June 2006, gathers the main stakeholders to examine the current European strategies in the fight against obesity and to take note of the best practice for developing a long-term strategy for health. The opening of the conference saw some stakeholder reactions in favour of refocusing the obesity debate to give more attention to the role of physical activity in the obesity (see positions here under) instead of concentrating on food intake.
At this occasion, Professor Pekka Puska, Director-General of the Finnish National Public Health Institute presented the priorities for tackling obesity during the forthcoming Finnish EU presidency. He said that the challenge would be discussed, in September 2006, in a high level expert meeting. Accordinh to Puska the "public health is greatly determined by lifestyles and environments and only to a limited degree (15%?) by health services. That is why we need to work with all stakeholders on health in all policies".
The Finnish approach to fighting obesity is thus set to be very broad, embracing policies on food and nutrition, agriculture, transport, education & youth, alcohol, sports and workplace. Finland is also set to give a particular emphasis on tackling inequalities in obesity as well as in health in general.
Professor Puska also showed some figures demonstrating how "all major health factors, except tobacco, are related to how we drink, eat and move". He did not deny the role of personal responsibility on obesity, but said that governments should watch what industry is doing and that, as environment affects health, "it is public responsibility to make the healthy choice the easy choice".
