More focus on children in the fight against obesity

The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) considers children and young people to be the most important single target group to address in the struggle against obesity in Europe, as behavioural patterns established in childhood and adolescence often remain in adult life. Therefore, the Committee proposes "to stimulate school canteens to sell/serve healthy food and beverages at reasonable prices and to reduce the amount of unhealthy food available as schools are important areas for teaching good nutritional habits." Further, "all pupils in schools should have at least 1 hour of physical activity a day (with a wide range of alternative activities) and schools should provide cooking education." 

EURO COOP, the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives, believes it is important to strike a balance between policy initiatives and legislative measures to make the future EU strategy comprehensive, referring to the need to develop an appropriate regulatory framework allowing consumers to make informed choices about what they eat. EURO COOP also thinks that education about the benefits of a balanced diet coupled with physical exercise should start at a very early age and "serving healthy meals in the schools’ canteens and freely distributing fruit and vegetables are practices that have to be encouraged." 

Michael Trinker of the EU-Office of German Sports said, "We think that the report should have emphasised more the role of physical activity. The role of sports is not promoted enough, especially the role of sports early in school." 

The office's position paper also states that "it is crucial that all parties involved in the fight against obesity bring forward the same message: a message on the importance of balance between intake and physical activity. i.e sport organisations refer to healthy nutrition and the food industry communicated the importance of being physically active (in sport)."

The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union's (PGEU) response "outlines the role and the contribution that pharmacists, through the network of community pharmacies can provide to fight this important public health challenge. The response includes specific references to public campaigns run by pharmacists' associations". 

The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) regrets that the Green Paper includes no mention of harmonisation of rules on food labelling and on food fortification. It is also concerned that the Commission highlights the possibility of industry self-regulation in the field of advertising and marketing of food and drink instead of presenting proposals to contribute to promoting healthy lifestyles. Further, EPHA points to the lack of a European dimension to the Green paper as it "fails to ask how best practice can be shared within the EU".

Stakeholders are invited to send position papers to health@euractiv.com .