More and more children in Europe, including the Republic of Cyprus, are classified as overweight or obese, the Minister of Health Michalis Damianos said on Wednesday, who announced the approval by the Council of Ministers of the National Strategy for Improving the Quality of Life of the Population through Healthy Diet and Physical Activity/Exercise, in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. He also mentioned that there are data on childhood obesity that show that Cyprus is at a higher level than other European countries.
In his statements after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Damianos stated that factors such as the modern lifestyle, the evolution of the family structure and the subsequent adoption of new eating habits "constitute one of the most serious challenges for Public Health". "The evidence shows that in Europe, including the Republic of Cyprus, more and more children are classified as overweight or obese," he added.
Additionally, he continued, "there are many and important risk factors responsible for premature deaths, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others, that are linked to diet and level of physical activity/exercise."
Therefore, with the aim of improving the quality of life of the country's population, he said, the Ministry of Health has drawn up a National Strategy, which provides, among other things, the recording of relevant Global and European Strategies and Action Plans for Improving the Quality of Life and the recording of demographic data, health indicators and other related data to capture the current situation in Cyprus.
It also provides for the cultivation of awareness in matters of healthy eating and physical exercise and the establishment of a National Committee, which will have an advisory role to the Minister of Health, with the ultimate goal of preparing an Action Plan for the promotion of healthy eating and exercise.
Asked if there is evidence on the issue of obesity, the Minister stated that there is evidence, especially on childhood obesity "that shows we are at a higher level than other European countries and it is something we obviously have to work on".