Est. 1min 17-03-2006 (updated: 16-07-2014 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The first stakeholder reactions to the Commission’s Green Paper on how to fight obesity all highlight the importance of starting healthy life-style education early in the childhood. The consultation on the Commission’s Green Paper to fight obesity closed on 15 March 2006. Some stakeholder organisations have already published their position and suggested several practical recommendations on the issue. Their reactions are many, but all respondents have at least one point in common. Both doctors and consumer representatives as well as sports stakeholders highlight the same issue: the fight against obesity needs to be focused on children. Mandatory daily physical activity in schools, serving healthy food in schools’ canteens and teaching healthy nutritional habits, even cooking, are among suggestions put forward by the respondents. Read more with Euractiv MEPs condemn racism in football The Parliament has adopted a written declaration condemning all forms of racism linked to football, both on and off the field. PositionsThe 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 . BackgroundThe Commission's Green Paper on the promotion of a healthy diet and physical activity (December 2005) launched a public consultation on how to reduce and to prevent the rising levels of obesity and associated chronic diseases in the EU. The aim is to stimulate discussion about effective initiatives to promote healthy diets and physical activity and to define best practices. Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Since the 1980s, the number of those affected in the EU has tripled and continues to increase at an alarming rate, especially among children. It is estimated that, at present, 7% of total EU healthcare costs are spent treating obesity-related illness. Given the rising obesity trend, these costs are expected to further increase. Timeline A report summarising the contributions to the stakeholder consultation are set to be published by June 2006. Further ReadingEU official documents PreLex:Promoting healthy diets and physical activity: a European dimension for the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases [FR] [FR] [DE] EU Actors positions EURO COOP - the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives:EURO COOP response to the Commission's Green Paper(13 March 2006) EU-Office of German Sports:Response to the Green Paper Consultation(5 March 2006) Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME):EU Commission “Green paper” consultation on the fight against obesity in Europe: CPME contribution(11 March 2006) EPHA - European Public Health Alliance:Briefing note on the Commission Green Paper on healthy diets and physical activity(December 2005) Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union's (PGEU) press release:Lessons from deregulating the pharmacy sector in Europe(14 March 2006)
