1 in 3 children in the WHO European Region are living with overweight or obesity

Newly adopted Zagreb Declaration sets out a political roadmap for reversing the rapid rise of childhood obesity

Zagreb, Croatia, 10 May 2023

The spouses of 16 European leaders and heads of state came together in the Croatian capital today, under the auspices of the spouse of the President of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Prof Dr Sanja Musić Milanović, to launch the first-ever Network of Spouses of European leaders on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity in the WHO European Region. They have unanimously adopted the Zagreb Declaration, laying out their political commitment to addressing childhood obesity in their countries and urging other countries to do the same.

Childhood obesity data paint an alarming picture.  According to the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022, roughly one in three primary school-aged children in the Region are living with obesity or are overweight, and this is only set to rise further.

Based on current trends and looking exclusively at obesity in the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, the World Obesity Atlas 2023 published by the World Obesity Federation, projects that between 2020 and 2035, there will be:

• a 61% increase in the number of boys living with obesity,
• a 75% increase in the number of girls living with obesity,
• with a total 17 million boys and 11 million girls aged 5-19 living with obesity in the WHO European Region in 2035. 
• Overweight and obesity across all age groups is projected to cost the WHO European Region $800 billion annually, by 2035. 

WHO/Europe has identified three specific actions to counter current projections and help prevent this silent epidemic from getting worse:

1. Prevention is better than cure. Efforts to reduce childhood obesity must start early – right from pregnancy and early childhood. Prevention needs to focus on good nutrition at all stages of a child’s life. Prevention efforts are also needed in homes, schools, and the wider community.
2. Regulating the food and beverage industry. The most effective policies to tackle childhood obesity include imposing a tax on sugary drinks, requiring clear front-of-package labelling, and restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children.
3. Promoting physical activity. This includes better urban design and transportation policies, physical activity in the school curriculum and extra-curricular activities, and clear messaging to support active lifestyles throughout the life course.

“Our children are increasingly growing up in environments that make it very difficult for them to eat well and be active. This is a root cause of the obesity epidemic,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “As societies and countries, we have so far failed to reverse the rising rates of childhood obesity, and that’s why WHO/Europe is here in Croatia, at the invitation of Professor Milanović, spouse of the President, to galvanize political support for this truly insidious public health crisis before it becomes even more difficult to address.”

“Childhood obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions, and Croatia, along with our entire European region, is among the most affected,” said Prof Dr Milanović. “It is a disease that not only negatively affects the health, quality of life and life expectancy of our population, but also represents a significant economic burden for our society. It is estimated that in Croatia, as well as in the entire European region, more than 2% of GDP goes to obesity-related costs. Here, at the Zagreb Summit, we have had the opportunity to clearly demonstrate that obesity knows no borders – it is our common problem, and we can only approach it together, at the European level, including numerous sectors of society. I believe that the Zagreb Declaration is an important step for halting the rise of childhood obesity in the entire European Region and that with joint action we will improve and preserve the health of future generations.”

The link between obesity and a range of diseases

Overweight and obesity are among the leading causes of death and disability in the European Region, with recent estimates suggesting they cause more than 1.2 million deaths annually, corresponding to more than 13% of total mortality.

Obesity increases the risk for many noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Obesity is also considered a cause of at least 13 different types of cancer and is likely to be directly responsible for at least 200,000 new cancer cases annually across the Region, with this figure set to rise further in the coming years.

Also, overweight people and those living with obesity have been disproportionately affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, often experiencing more severe disease and other complications.  

“Because obesity is so complex, influenced by different factors like genetics, environment, and socioeconomic status, no single intervention can halt its rise,” explained Dr Kluge. “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.”

“We hope we can count on the spouses of European leaders and heads of state to champion tackling childhood obesity in their countries and help elevate it onto political and corporate agendas, and the Zagreb Declaration issued today is an important first step,” Dr Kluge concluded. “Only by working together, across cultures, sectors and political divides, will we be able to stem the tide of childhood obesity, and contribute to a healthier future for all.”

ENDS

For further information or to arrange interviews kindly contact:

WHO Regional Office for Europe                          

Bhanu Bhatnagar                                                      

Press & Media Relations Officer                             

bbhatnagar@who.int                                               

NOTES TO EDITOR

• First Spouses represented from: Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkiye.
• Full text of the Zagreb Declaration available in English and Russian.
• WHO obesity and overweight definitions, facts and figures available here.
• WHO healthy diet definitions, facts and figures available here.
• WHO physical activity definitions, facts and figures available here.
• Limitations of World Obesity Atlas projections: While the figures presented here are indicative, and WHO/Europe has reviewed the research methods and found the data/evidence to be sound, it is also important to acknowledge certain limitations. There are several consequences of obesity that were not accounted for in the model, both healthcare and non-healthcare related. Additionally, the estimates are based on current obesity trends which may or may not continue. For instance, the data presented may trigger policies which alter the trajectory for the better in certain countries, treatment may become more effective and external factors (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) may also impact the projections.