emblem
Back to WHO/Europe home page

Obesity

News

  • World Health Assembly, day 2: resolution on noncommunicable diseases approved
    24-05-2012
    A resolution on strengthening noncommunicable disease policies to promote active ageing was approved by countries on the second day of WHO’s global annual meeting.
  • World health statistics 2012 report: increase of hypertension and diabetes
    22-05-2012
    The World health statistics 2012 report, released on 16 May 2012, highlights the growing problem of noncommunicable diseases.
  • Malta launches obesity strategy
    01-05-2012
    Earlier this year, Malta launched its Healthy Weight for Life strategy for 2012–2020.
  • Empowering patients
    17-04-2012
    From passive recipient to co-producer of health care – health systems must involve chronically ill people as equal partners in their treatment to be effective. The First European Conference on Patient Empowerment was held in Copenhagen, Denmark on 11–12 April 2012. Read more …
  • WHO/Europe responds to call for development of NCD targets and indicators
    06-02-2012
    A Regional Technical Consultation on Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation will take place in Oslo 9-10 February 2012.
  • Reducing cancer: international community moves from resolution to action
    18-11-2011
    The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and its partners, including WHO, have developed a resolution that specifies measurable steps to reduce preventable deaths from cancer.
  • Diabetes epidemic in Europe
    11-11-2011
    Lifestyle choices are putting more people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. World Diabetes Day 2011 focuses on prevention.
  • Women and cancer: screening and treatment save lives
    03-11-2011
    One in five women in the European Region will get cancer before the age of 75. A third of cancers are preventable, and common types among women – breast, colorectal and cervical – can be cured if detected early.
  • No tobacco at EURO 2012
    20-10-2011
    The 14th Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European Football Championship (EURO 2012) will be totally tobacco free. UEFA’s decision to ban tobacco from the world’s third largest sporting event sends a strong message to football fans everywhere, reaffirming the link between football and good health.
  • Healthy nutrition in schools
    23-09-2011
    Schools offer an opportunity to promote healthy eating habits that children can carry into adulthood, and to reach into the wider community.
  • New WHO/Europe centre on noncommunicable diseases opens in Athens
    23-09-2011
    At a ceremony today in Athens, Greece, a new centre on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) was opened by Andreas Loverdos, Minister of Health and Social Solidarity of Greece, and Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
  • Noncommunicable diseases top of world’s agenda
    19-09-2011
    Today and tomorrow (19–20 September 2011), high-level representatives of the 193 countries in the United Nations are meeting in New York, United States of America, to discuss the worldwide epidemic of noncommunicable diseases.
  • Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011 - WHO global report
    14-09-2011
  • Changing risky behaviour key to tackling noncommunicable diseases
    02-06-2011
    The policy action needed at national and cross-national level to address the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases was again on the agenda as experts met in Budapest, Hungary, on 30-31 May 2011 at the ‘Action for Prevention’ Conference of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union.
  • New database on nutrition, obesity and physical activity
    19-05-2011
    Physical inactivity and unhealthy food habits are contributing to spiralling levels of noncommunicable diseases. WHO/Europe has developed a database to map policies on nutrition, physical activity and obesity throughout the WHO European Region.
  • European countries take up the Health 2020 challenge
    10-03-2011
    In Andorra, the first meeting of the European Health Policy Forum of High-level Government Officials opened on 9 March 2011, to launch a two-year process that will shape Health 2020, the new European policy for health.
  • Earth Hour: use energy wisely
    09-03-2011
    20.30 to 21.30 on Saturday 26 March 2011 will mark Earth Hour, when lights will be switched off around the globe so people can take a stand against climate change. Reducing overall energy use and encouraging the uptake of renewable energy sources have a dual benefit for health. This year we are being encouraged to “Go beyond the hour!”  
  • Cancer linked with poor nutrition
    04-02-2011
    Up to 30% of all cancer cases are linked to poor dietary habits, and are therefore preventable. World Cancer Day is 4 February.
  • Health Experts Accept use of HbA1c for Diagnosing Diabetes
    02-02-2011
    A new test for diagnosing diabetes mellitus has been accepted by a WHO-backed group of experts, offering a more practical approach to test for the disease that affects over 220 million people worldwide.
  • Reducing food-marketing pressure on children
    05-01-2011
    Most food marketing aimed at children focuses on products high in fat, sugar or salt. WHO encourages sectors to work together to combat the impact on children’s health.
  • 25–70% of adults in Europe are overweight
    09-12-2010
    A study of the most recently available national data for Europe reveals that 25–70% of adults are overweight, depending on the country, and 5–30%, obese. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. called on countries to recognize obesity’s social dimension when developing policies.
  • WHO Call for Case Studies on Physical Activity Promotion in Socially Disadvantaged Groups
    24-08-2010
    WHO/Europe is undertaking a project to compile and review existing projects, initiatives and interventions targeting physical activity promotion in socially disadvantaged groups.