Looks like the Europeans may be onto something here. The following is from the European Obesity Day website:
It’s estimated that over half of the European population is overweight or obese. Whilst it is often seen as something that affects body image and confidence, being overweight is extremely detrimental to health, causing huge personal and public health issues across Europe.
We’re not just talking about feeling sluggish and unfit. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing serious life-threatening illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease – two of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide.
However, what many people don’t know is that if you’re overweight, losing 5-10% in body weight can significantly improve your health.
That’s right – gradual, steady weight loss which results in a 5-10% decrease in body weight can help you feel fitter, healthier and reduce the likelihood of you suffering from high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and stroke.
Europe’s obesity epidemic is already here – and we need to take the right action now!
Losing weight is really tough and helping people lose weight (not just preventing weight gain) is key. Governments are taking steps to prevent people becoming overweight, but we believe that to truly create a healthier Europe today, more effort is needed to help those who are already overweight or obese.
Through our campaign, 5-10 for a healthier Europe, we want to harness support and backing to help overweight and obese citizens lose 5-10% of their overall body weight, collectively improving the health of our nations and enriching the lives of people across Europe.
We want to raise public awareness of the need for action by all – from Governments to individuals –to make genuine and practical steps to help people reach a healthy weight in order to reverse Europe’s obesity epidemic.
What you can do?
Help our European friends by joining their citizens’ initiative petition, where they are hoping for 1 Million signatures!
Click here to sign the petition
Do you think it is time for our own petition here in Canada?
AMS
Frankfurt, Germany
In The News
May 21st, 2010 at 5:05 pm
It is great to get governments involved to gain more publicity around obesity. However much of the real power starts with education. As long as our advertising laws allow the food industry to manipulate and lie then for each step forward we take one back. We have sugar laden kids breakfast cereals(Fruit Loops) promoting the very minimal health effect of 3 grams of fibre. We have dozens of products labeled low fat, with sugar and calorie counts that are obscene. As we have in the cigarette industry, low tar / nicotine brands only allow more deception.