Greek Reporter — A new study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the global obesity “epidemic” includes some disturbing data for Greece.
Obese boys between the ages of 5 and 19 make 16.7% of the Greek population. The problem is mainly due to food marketing and the economic crisis, which makes healthy food too expensive for poor families.
The number of obese children and adolescents aged 5-19 worldwide has risen tenfold in the past four decades.
Being obese during childhood and adolescence is associated with adverse health consequences throughout an individual’s life.
The study concludes that children and adolescents are more susceptible to food marketing than adults, which makes reducing children’s exposure to fattening foods necessary to protect them from harm.
