About: childhood obesity
Agrifood Brief: A spoonful of sugar
According to the World Health Organisation, unhealthy diets cause a whopping 11 million deaths each year and are linked with six of the top 10 risk factors for the global burden of disease. And this problem is just set to...
Europe faces ‘obesity epidemic’ as figure almost tripled in 40 years
Last week, the European Parliament called for the better treatment and management of obesity as average obesity levels in the EU have risen by 161% since 1975. EURACTIV France reports.
Obesity must not become a new normal, MEPs warn
Participants of a launch event of a new European Parliamentary Interest Group on Obesity and Health System Resilience call on better obesities treatment management.
Childhood obesity: Food education more important than regulation, parents say
Education about balanced diets brings tangible results according to the vending machines lobby, while parental organisations say lawmakers should insist on good habits to tackle childhood obesity, rather than regulation.
Greek soft drink industry reduces sugar by 10% amid rising obesity rates
Following an EU call to reformulate food products in order to tackle rising obesity across Europe, the Association of Greek Soft Drinks Industries (SEVA) recently launched an initiative to reduce sugar in its products by 10%.
WHO makes U-turn in taxation of sugary drinks
The World Health Organisation's Independent Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases released a draft report on 10 May which - if implemented - will back away from its initial recommendation to introduce sugar taxes in order to tackle the so-called obesity epidemic. The final report will be released on 1 June.
Andriukaitis: National health systems need ‘fundamental reform’
EU countries could save money and lives by increasing investment in disease prevention and health promotion, the European Commission said on Thursday (23 November), stressing that good health policy requires political will across all sectors.
FAO boss: Half of world’s population will be malnourished by 2030
More than a half of the global population will suffer some form of malnutrition by 2030 unless urgent action is taken to improve access to high-quality food, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has told G7 health ministers.
Policymakers push for healthy eating choices at lunchtime
It can be easy to make the wrong food choices during your lunch break. But policymakers are trying to make lunchtime a more satisfying, healthy experience for employees.
Manufacturers to withdraw soft drinks from EU schools from 2018
Europe’s soft drinks industry has announced it will stop selling sugary beverages in all schools in the European Union from late 2018. Health campaigners have welcomed the move but said more needs to be done to promote healthy eating in schools.
Commission merges healthy food schemes at school to cut red tape
The European Commission announced on Tuesday (1 August) that it would merge the milk and fruit and vegetables schemes currently provided separately to schoolchildren across Europe.
Malta’s EU presidency ending in exceptional health
As Malta’s time at the helm of the EU’s rotating presidency comes to an end, Health Minister Chris Fearne reflects on the successes of the last six months.
‘Traffic light’ food labels gain momentum across Europe
A UK scheme that labels pre-packed food in red, amber or green according to their level of healthiness was rejected by Mediterranean countries at EU level but is slowly gaining momentum across Europe.
Retailers fear tobacco-style restrictions on food and drinks
Governments across Europe have applied ever-more restrictive measures to the sale of food and drinks as a way of fighting obesity – a regulatory proliferation that is making retailers worried about new barriers to the EU’s single market.
Consumer group wants to kill cartoons on ‘unhealthy’ food for children
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) urged food companies on Wednesday (14 June) to stop using cartoon characters to promote unhealthy foods for children, saying they negatively affect their dietary behaviour.
Finland, UK and Ireland singled out in 2017 ‘Nanny State Index’
Usually praised by the EU for its highly competitive economy, Finland came under attack by a group of free-market think tanks on Wednesday (10 May) for pushing “paternalistic lifestyle policies” aimed at curbing consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks.
EU urges member states to target childhood obesity in schools
Faced with alarming childhood obesity cases, the European Commission is calling on member states to take action in the procurement of healthy food for schools.