WHO: One in three children and more than one in two adults in Europe is overweight

The report was presented on Tuesday.

According to the WHO, obesity is one of the leading causes of death in Europe and is behind more than 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year.

Obesity also increases the risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

In some European countries, obesity is expected to go around smoking as the main risk for incurable cancer in the next few decades.

Every third child

In Europe, 59 per cent of adults - 63 per cent of men and 54 per cent of women - and every third child - 29 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls - are overweight or obese, according to the WHO's European Regional Obesity report Report 2022 ”.

According to the WHO, 44 million children under the age of five are overweight.

This corresponds to 7.9 percent of all children in that age group.

The highest levels of obesity are generally found in the Mediterranean region and Eastern Europe.

Obesity is also described as an ongoing pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Obesity and covid-19

Covid-19 is also mentioned as a contributor to the continued spread.

During the pandemic, many have changed their eating and exercise habits for the worse.

The WHO fears that the changes will have consequences for many years to come and may be difficult to change, according to the report.

Studies from several European countries also indicate that the weight of children and young people increased during the pandemic.

Kremlin Wickramasinghe, a doctor and one of the people behind the report, says in a press release that our surroundings affect our weight.

- For example, the lives of children and young people are affected by digital environments, including the marketing of unhealthy food and drink, he says.