One in Three Greek Children are Obese

A new report by OECD showed that Greece is among the European countries that face an obesity problem. According to OECD one in three Greek children (over 30%) are overweight or obese. On average, in EU countries, one in five children are obese while OECD points out the need for more coordinated efforts to deal with the problem. The report shows that most citizens (over 50%) in OECD countries are overweight or obese. Obesity is turning into an epidemic with dramatic social and economic consequences, exposing an increasing number of people in chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancer. The OECD report shows that obesity levels have continued to increase in most countries during the last five years, though at a slower pace than previous years. Obesity has risen 3.2% in countries such as France, Spain and Switzerland, while its levels have remained stable in England, Italy and the U.S. Obesity is an “inequality issue” according to the report. “The economic crisis has made families spend less on food, but poor households have also switched to junk food, high in calories,” OECD said. Moreover, higher rates of obesity are recorded among the least educated people. The report by OECD  will be presented on May 28 at the European Congress on Obesity in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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