Pandemic obesity in Europe

doi:10.1136/bmj.39038.449769.BE

BMJ 2006;333:1081 (25 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39038.449769.BE (published 17 November 2006)

Editorials

Pandemic obesity in Europe

A new charter from WHO promises concerted action to preventand treat obesity

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The threats to public health from widespreadobesity are well known. So are the main solutions—we allneed to move more and eat less. Evidence is still sparse, however,on the effectiveness, and, importantly, the cost effectivenessof large scale public health interventions to prevent and treatobesity. But a fifth of Europe's population is already obese,and obesity in adults accounts for up to 6% of direct healthcosts and more than 12% in indirect costs of shortened lives,reduced productivity, and lowered incomes.¹ Can Europe affordto wait for better evidence? The World Health Organization doesnot think so.

This month in Istanbul, WHO brought togetherfrom all corners of Europe ministers of health; ministers fromother sectors such as education, sport, environment, transport,and agriculture; the food industry; public-private partners;and non-governmental organisations with the aim of taking realand immediate action on obesity. The meeting was . . . [Full text of this article]

Trish Groves, Deputy editor

¹ BMJ, London WC1H 9JR

tgroves@bmj.com

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