A state of emergency has been recently put on European Union agenda. In the next ten years, European countries will be "on diet". The EU countries have to manage an alarming situation: high rate of obesity and overweight. It seems that all America's weight-loss problems along with diets and any kind of dieting pills crossed the Ocean.
European countries borrowed bad habits from Americans
Along with foods, Americans have brought the whole picture to the "Old continent": fad diets and related-weigh loss problems, dieting pills and dietary supplements. According to International Obesity Task Force, the prevalence of obesity has grown by up by 10 to 40 percent in most European countries from 1993 to 2003. It is an alarming statement. 30% of people living in the European Union are overweight and more than one in ten is now obese, according to EASO.
Not surprisingly, a war against obesity has started recently. European officials are worried specifically about childhood obesity since children with "weight problems" are three to five times more likely to suffer a heart attack or even stroke before the age of 65. Although this problem is not as urgent as the American issue, the forecasts are ruthless.
The battle against obesity
When overweight and obesity are on the agenda,
are often quoted. Officials of the European Union are worried because obesity brings along related problems such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Unfortunately,70.000 cases are added each year, while heart disorders are already the leading cause of death in the European Union: half of all deaths are caused by heart disease.
Since the issue became so urgent, the EU was prompted to apply a "fight-plan" against obesity for the next ten years. Experts have decided in the recent European Congress of Obesity that the new fight-front should proceed on four major ways:
Additionally, two pathways can be involved in this effort:
They are to induce and educate nationwide a well-balanced eating regimen and promote physical activity and regular exercise (schools included). A direct and sharp link to the new way of eating (fast food, biscuits, high carbohydrate foods, fatty products) hasn't been established precisely. It is argued though that giving up old healthy habits proved a significant overweight factor. Thus, obesity has been declared "public enemy number one" in the European Union.
Portugal case study
Anorectic teenagers and obese middle-aged people - this is happening nowadays only in Portugal. It is a strange situation, the least to say. Nearly two-fifths of all Portuguese of 18 to 65 are overweight and no less than 15 percent are already obese while over 8% of all 18 and 19 year olds are extremely thin (twice than in the same age group in 1995). These facts were released in September 2004, after a study had been carried out and cited by Agency France-Presse.
What do these two statistics disclose?
As the Portuguese have changed their eating habits lately, adding more sweets and fatty foods into their meals, the obesity range highly increased. A review of their eating habits reveals that many people go to work with no breakfast. Around ten o'clock in the morning there is the "coffee break", which is usually taken with a lot of sweet cakes, rolls, croissants. Lunch is regularly around one o'clock and means meat (codfish, veal, pork, chicken, rabbit) and potatoes (raw vegetables are rarely eaten). Another coffee break is around five o'clock. Dinner is at eight and consists of meat primarily. The Portuguese eat soup often but after a meal, not before. The famous caldo verde soup is preferred, in spite of the fact that it contains a potentially lethal piece of cholesterol rich sausage.
Besides, Portugal is invaded by fast food, especially hamburger outlets like McDonalds. Not only large cities, but also small towns have a McDonalds. Not to mention the other fast-food outlets, which make things worse for the Portuguese.
About The Author
Dana Scripca writes for http://www.dietpillscentral.com where you can find more information about Diet Pills.
http://www.dietpillscentral.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carThere are many factors responsible for abdominal fat like processed... Read More
Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More
False campaignsMore than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
There is no such thing as spot reducing. Any fat... Read More
If you have ever been snow skiing you know that... Read More
In the early weeks after having weight loss surgery almost... Read More
Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More
Are you one of the many who may be tempted... Read More
I'm sure you have pondered this question, for it is... Read More
If your low carb diet is going nowhere, maybe its... Read More
Making the Decision:Whether you are interested losing ten pounds that... Read More
In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More
Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had... Read More
Your pants are a bit tight, you can't seem to... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a best selling... Read More
In order to identify hunger, you must first understand what... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
Food is not simply fuel to keep you going. Nor... Read More
Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More
Have you heard about it lately? Everywhere you look, women... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power.Your Inner... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Obesity, once seen as akin to laziness and overeating, is... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
On the market at any given time, there are hundreds... Read More
Individuals who are interested in bariatric surgery need to be... Read More
Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had... Read More
Let's face facts; obesity is ripe today in America and... Read More
Weight loss information is often confusing and misleading. The more... Read More
Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More
Please feel free to comment, to provide good information and... Read More
Why was the FDA trying to hide the facts about... Read More
I have put off writing a motivation article because of... Read More
Once upon a time, I fretted about going to a... Read More
Americans have their French fries, the British have their chips,... Read More
Repeat a lie often enough and people take it as... Read More
When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More
Lets face it, most of us live pretty busy lives... Read More
Do you know that while you work out the muscles... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
Have you been surfing the web trying to find a... Read More
You gain weight when your calorie intake is more than... Read More
Spring is here and swimsuit weather is just around the... Read More
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More
Phentermine, like many other prescription drugs, works with chemicals called... Read More
I am somebody who has had an ongoing battle with... Read More
A number of popular diets are focused on carbohydrates. Some... Read More
Weight Loss |