About Obesity and Diabetes
Rates of obesity are growing worldwide reflecting profound societal changes in food consumption and levels of physical activity. It is estimated that approximately 20 % of Irish children are overweight or obese, at least 20% of adults are clinically obese (with the prevalence of obesity increasing by at least 1% per year. The obesity epidemic is driving a parallel global epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and it is estimated that by 2015 approximately 6% of Irish adults will have diabetes. Overweight and obesity are centrally involved in thedevelopment of hypertension and the metabolic syndrome and the obesity epidemic and is likely to reverse current favourable trend in cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality. Obesity also contributes to the burden of disease from cancer, gall bladder disease, arthritis and a range of other conditions. The personal health and social costs of overweight and obesity include effects on self esteem, mental health and well being and overall quality of life.
Fact sheet on Obesity from the WHOFact sheet N°311
Updated February 2011
What are overweight and obesity?
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Fact sheet on Diabetes from the WHO
Fact sheet N°312
January 2011
Key facts
More than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes.
In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high blood sugar.
More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO projects that diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030.
Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health
DG SANCO of the European Commission officially launched the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health in March 2005. The creation of the Platform, which EUFIC is pleased to support in its capacity as a dissemination partner, is part of an overall strategy on nutrition and physical activity being developed by the European Commission and followed several months of discussions between the institution and the various stakeholders about how to address the obesity epidemic in Europe. EU Directorate General for Health and Consumers
Our job is to ensure that food and consumer goods sold in the EU are safe, that the EU's internal market works for the benefit of consumers and that Europe helps protect and improve its citizens' health. In order to succeed in our mission we work with other EU Institutions, national governments and agencies, consumer organisations, health interest groups, business groups, scientists, researchers and experts.