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The challenge of obesity - quick statistics

• The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008. According to country estimates for 2008, over 50% of both men and women in the WHO European Region were overweight, and roughly 23% of women and 20% of men were obese.
• Based on the latest estimates in European Union countries, overweight affects 30-70% and obesity affects 10-30% of adults.
• Estimates of the number of overweight infants and children in the WHO European Region rose steadily from 1990 to 2008. Over 60% of children who are overweight before puberty will be overweight in early adulthood. Childhood obesity is strongly associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, orthopaedic problems, mental disorders, underachievement in school and lower self-esteem.

Physical activity and diet

Participation in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or equivalent) is estimated to reduce the risk of ischaemic heart disease by approximately 30%, the risk of diabetes by 27%, and the risk of breast and colon cancer by 21–25%. Physical activity also lowers the risk of stroke, hypertension and depression.

Country estimates of 2008 revealed that approximately 35% of all people in the WHO European Region are insufficiently physically active. Men were more active than women, particularly in high-income countries, where nearly every second woman was insufficiently physically active. The increased automation of work and other aspects of life in higher-income countries is a likely determinant of insufficient physical activity.

The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2005/2006 survey of countries in the WHO European Region and North America found that girls across all countries and age groups report being less active than boys, with the gender gap increasing with age. The survey found that in general 15-year-olds (average 16%) were less likely to report meeting the physical activity guidelines than 11-year-olds (average 26%) in the majority of countries. Only 22% of 11-year-old girls report engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes per day. For boys, the figure is 30%.

Socioeconomic status

Family affluence was significantly associated with overweight or obesity in around half of the countries surveyed in the HBSC study: those from lower affluence families were more likely to be overweight or obese. This pattern was strongest in western Europe.

A daily breakfast and at least daily fruit consumption are seen as two of the most important healthy eating habits. In the HBSC study, eating breakfast daily was significantly associated with higher family affluence in the majority of countries for boys and over half for girls. Similarly, low family affluence was significantly associated with lower levels of fruit consumption among boys and girls in the majority of countries surveyed.

Prevention

WHO’s recommendations for preventing and managing obesity emphasize the need for early prevention to ensure lifelong healthy eating and physical activity patterns. They also point to the need for coordinated partnerships involving different government sectors, communities, the mass media and the private sector to ensure that diet and everyday levels of physical activity can be changed effectively and sustainably.