Questão 55 - Feevale Medicina 2024/1

Texto

 

UN – United Nations News

 

May 10th, 2023

1 in 3 children overweight in the European region: WHO report

 

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report on obesity levels in Europe shows that roughly one in three primary school-aged children is living with obesity or are overweight, and this is only set to rise further. The WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 was launched by the spouses of 16 European leaders and Heads of State, in the Croatian capital. Childhood obesity data for WHO’s European Region paints an alarming picture. “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.” 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 region in 2035.
• Issues involving being overweight and obesity across all age groups are projected to cost
the WHO European Region $800 billion annually, by 2035.

 

WHO European Region has identified three specific actions to counter current projections and help prevent this silent epidemic from getting worse: 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. Regulating the food and beverage industry: the most effective policies to tackle childhood obesity include imposing a tax on sugary drinks, requiring clear front-ofpackage labelling, and restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children. 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.

Adapted from: 1 in 3 children overweight in the European region: WHO report. UN – UNITED NATIONS NEWS. Release date: May 10th, 2023. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136547. Access on May 30th, 2023.

Consider the following statements about the text.

 

I. The number of obese children in the WHO European Region is increasing.
II. Childhood obesity in the WHO European Region is alarming, although it is easy for the children to eat well.
III. Childhood obesity is an important issue, but it is not connected to a public health issue.

IV. One of the reasons of childhood obesity is the fact that some children are not active.

 

Check the correct answer