Q:
A:
Problem of obesity to be dealt with methods used in Nordic countries
Belgrade,
15 November 2007
Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic said today that obesity is a Europe-wide problem and it could be solved by applying methods used in Nordic countries, particularly Finland which succeeded in bringing about a change on a national level in a period of 40 years.
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking at the opening of an international conference on obesity at the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences (SANU), Milosavljevic said that various diseases can be prevented by avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity.
According to Milosavljevic, serious preventive activities and changes in habits over a longer period of time could help realise the joint aim of better health for all people in Serbia.
The Minister said that during the previous few months a situation analysis was made which shows that half of the Serbian population is overweight. He added that a national programme for controlling obesity will be prepared next year.
SANU President Nikola Hajdin said that according to Health Ministry statistics, currently 18.3% of Serbian population suffers from obesity and 36.2% is overweight. This shows that more than half of the population has problems with weight.
Hajdin said that the epidemic of obesity, which began on a global level during the latter part of the last century, has become a major health problem in developed as well as in developing countries.
He said that it is a particularly worrying fact that obesity is also a growing problem among children and adolescents, which suggests that the trend of obesity is continuing.
Comorbidities which are associated with obesity show that this disease puts a huge strain on the health and economic system of every country, including Serbia, concluded Hajdin.
According to Milosavljevic, serious preventive activities and changes in habits over a longer period of time could help realise the joint aim of better health for all people in Serbia.
The Minister said that during the previous few months a situation analysis was made which shows that half of the Serbian population is overweight. He added that a national programme for controlling obesity will be prepared next year.
SANU President Nikola Hajdin said that according to Health Ministry statistics, currently 18.3% of Serbian population suffers from obesity and 36.2% is overweight. This shows that more than half of the population has problems with weight.
Hajdin said that the epidemic of obesity, which began on a global level during the latter part of the last century, has become a major health problem in developed as well as in developing countries.
He said that it is a particularly worrying fact that obesity is also a growing problem among children and adolescents, which suggests that the trend of obesity is continuing.
Comorbidities which are associated with obesity show that this disease puts a huge strain on the health and economic system of every country, including Serbia, concluded Hajdin.
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