The percentage of overweight children and teenagers is a serious problem in the EU. Up to seven percent of the entire health budget is spent on the treatment of secondary diseases caused by obesity. A Europe-wide project for nutrition and physical activity - Joint Action on Nutrition and Physical Activity (JANPA) – started in September 2015 to prevent health problems caused by excess weight. The project details the following priorities:
Evaluation of the financial consequences of overweight and obesity
Better implementation of health promotion actions
Increased use of nutritional Information
Contribution to a healthier school Environment
One of three children between the ages six and nine was overweight or obese (adipose), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010. The number of overweight and obese young people is increasing constantly, despite numerous initiatives at regional, national and international levels.
JANPA is co-financed by the third EU Health Programme and is designed to limit the increase in overweight and adipose children and teenagers by 2020. To achieve this, data and best practices used in the 26 participating Member States should be shared with the other countries.
AGES - Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety
