Campaigners to Sound the Alarm on European Obesity Day, 21 May 2011

BRUSSELS, May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Workshops and workouts, health checks and info campaigns to stop the 'yo-yo effect' of repeated weight loss and gain will highlight the second European Obesity Day on 21 May, sounding the alarm that over 200 million European adults are overweight and a rising death rate looms.

The EOD 2011 campaign, 'STOP YO-YO', aims to get countries to join Portugal, the only EU Member to recognise obesity as a chronic disease in line with WHO recommendations[1] and a new European Parliament Resolution[2]. Portugal now has dedicated treatment and prevention programmes.

Prof. David Haslam, EOD Co-founder said, "If we don't treat obese individuals now, in five years time we will have a diabetes epidemic, in ten years time a heart disease epidemic and in fifteen years time an epidemic of premature death."

High-profile activities will take place all across Europe on 21 May, including:

- Portugal: Activists take over Lisbon's university stadium with a large number of activities focusing on exercise, medical checks and nutritional information.

- France: Info stands and nutrition and physical activity workshops take place in many French cities with support from the French Ministry of Health and government agencies.

- Belgium: 19 May roundtable with health specialists, patient and consumer representatives, policy makers and media. Free health and BMI checks available throughout the country.

Jean-Paul Allonsius, EOD President said, "Obesity is a chronic disease. Patients need the support of healthcare professionals to deliver sustainable behaviour change. Citizens should visit their health professional, find out what a healthy weight is for them and how to reach and maintain it."

EOD 2011 was launched on 3 May 2011 in the European Parliament in Brussels at an event hosted by Mr. Cristian Busoi MEP. The EU Health Commissioner expressed support in a statement ( http://www.obesityday.eu/en/mediaroom/press-releases).

The rate of obesity has increased by 30% over the past 10-15 years[3] and the EU estimates that obesity accounts for up to 7% of EU healthcare costs. Prevention through healthy diets and exercise is a start but obese citizens need effective management of the disease by healthcare professionals.

Press kit: http://www.obesityday.eu/en/mediaroom/press-releases

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[1] European Charter on counteracting obesity, WHO, 2006

(http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/87462/E89567.pdf)

[2] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2011-0081

[3] Health at a Glance, OECD, 2010: http://www.oecd.org/document/19/0,3746,en_2649_37407_46460563_1_1_1_37407,00.html

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