As taxas de sobrepeso e obesidade atingiram proporções epidêmicas em toda a Europa e ainda estão aumentando, de acordo com o novo Relatório Regional Europeu de Obesidade da OMS 2022.
O novo Relatório Regional Europeu de Obesidade da OMS 2022, a ser publicado hoje (3 de maio de 2022) pelo Escritório Regional da OMS para a Europa, revela que as taxas de sobrepeso e obesidade atingiram proporções epidêmicas em toda a Região e ainda estão em expansão, com nenhum dos 53 Os Estados Membros da Região atualmente estão a caminho de cumprir a meta da OMS para Doenças Não Transmissíveis Globais (DNT) de deter o aumento da obesidade até 2025.
Novos dados sobre obesidade e sobrepeso
O relatório, que será lançado numa conferência de imprensa a 3 de maio e apresentado esta semana no Congresso Europeu da Obesidade em Maastricht, Holanda, revela que na Região Europeia, 59% dos adultos e quase 1 em cada 3 crianças (29% dos rapazes e 27% das meninas) estão acima do peso ou vivem com obesidade. Com exceção das Américas, a prevalência de obesidade em adultos na Região Europeia é maior do que em qualquer outra região da OMS.
O sobrepeso e a obesidade estão entre as principais causas de morte e incapacidade na Região Europeia, com estimativas atuais indicando que são responsáveis por mais de 1,2 milhão de mortes por ano, representando mais de 13% da mortalidade geral na Região.
A obesidade aumenta o risco de muitas doenças não transmissíveis, incluindo câncer, doenças cardiovasculares, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e doenças respiratórias crônicas. Por exemplo, a obesidade é considerada uma causa de pelo menos 13 tipos diferentes de câncer e provavelmente será diretamente responsável por pelo menos 200.000 novos casos de câncer anualmente em toda a Região, com esse número a aumentar ainda mais nos próximos anos. O sobrepeso e a obesidade também são o principal fator de risco para deficiência, causando 7% do total de anos vividos com deficiência na Região.
Pessoas com sobrepeso e com obesidade têm sido desproporcionalmente afetadas pelas consequências da[{” attribute=””>COVID-19 pandemic. There have been unfavorable shifts in food consumption and physical activity patterns during the pandemic that will have effects on population health in the years ahead, and will need significant effort to reverse.
Unfavorable shifts in food consumption and physical activity patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic will have effects on population health in the years ahead, and will need significant effort to reverse.
Obesity in Europe: an ongoing “epidemic”
To address the growing epidemic, the report recommends a suite of interventions and policy options that Member States can consider to prevent and tackle obesity in the Region, with an emphasis on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Obesity knows no borders. In the Europe and Central Asia regions, no single country is going to meet the WHO Global NCD target of halting the rise of obesity,” said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “The countries in our Region are incredibly diverse, but everyone is challenged to some degree. By creating environments that are more enabling, promoting investment and innovation in health, and developing strong and resilient health systems, we can change the trajectory of obesity in the Region.”
Obesity is a disease – not only a risk factor
Obesity is a complex disease that presents a risk to health. Its causes are much more complex than the mere combination of an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. This report presents the latest evidence, highlighting how vulnerability to unhealthy body weight in early life can affect a person’s tendency to develop obesity.
Environmental factors unique to living in modern Europe’s highly digitalized societies are also drivers of obesity. The report explores, for example, how the digital marketing of unhealthy food products to children, and the proliferation of sedentary online gaming, contribute to the rising tide of overweight and obesity in the European Region. However, it also looks at how digital platforms might also provide opportunities for the promotion and discussion of health and well-being.
Policy measures: what can countries do?
Addressing obesity is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and is a priority echoed in WHO’s European Programme of Work 2020–2025.
The new WHO report outlines how policy interventions that target environmental and commercial determinants of poor diet at the entire population level are likely to be most effective at reversing the obesity epidemic, addressing dietary inequalities, and achieving environmentally sustainable food systems.
Obesity is complex, with multifaceted determinants and health consequences, which means that no single intervention can halt the rise of the growing epidemic.
Any national policies aiming to address the issues of overweight and obesity must have high-level political commitment behind them. They should also be comprehensive, reaching individuals across the life course and targeting inequalities. Efforts to prevent obesity need to consider the wider determinants of the disease, and policy options should move away from approaches that focus on individuals and address the structural drivers of obesity.
The WHO report highlights a few specific policies that show promise in reducing levels of obesity and overweight:
- the implementation of fiscal interventions (such as taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages or subsidies for healthy foods);
- restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children;
- improvement of access to obesity and overweight management services in primary health care, as part of universal health coverage;
- efforts to improve diet and physical activity across the life course, including preconception and pregnancy care, promotion of breastfeeding, school-based interventions, and interventions to create environments that improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.
WHO Regional European Obesity Report 2022
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