00:17¡Gracias por ver!
00:33A complex, multifactorial disease on its own right and a risk factor for many other diseases
00:40that affect multiple body systems and also leaves behind a difficult-to-erase metabolic
00:47and psychological footprint.
00:50We have the figures and the evidence of the tremendous public health problem that childhood
00:56obesity represents.
00:57The most basic and devastating fact is that, according to the European Sidehood Obesity
01:05Surveillance Initiative, we have heard before, one in three school-aid children are living
01:12with overweight or obesity.
01:14We are here today because of this reality and also because, in general terms, we have
01:20heard before, not a single member state of the region is currently on track to reach the
01:28target of halting the rise in obesity by 2025, as reflected in the latest WHO, European Regional
01:37Obesity Report.
01:38Therefore, the WHO points to the causes by which children begin to fall ill and become obese.
01:48I'll try to say it quickly.
01:50Low or no breastfeeding, misleading unhealthy complementary foods, abundance of cheap and
01:55healthy food locally.
01:56When I say unhealthy food, I say ultra-processed food.
02:01Extensive marketing and availability of unhealthy food, poor quality school food, limited options
02:07for physical activity, low health literacy, and fewer financial and psychological resources.
02:14And these children will very likely become adults with poor health.
02:23Governments and public health officials are very aware of this problem, but its dimension
02:27is so complex and serious and its approach so extensive that it requires multidisciplinary
02:34efforts, sustained and complementary efforts, that challenge each and every citizen in the
02:41European region of WHO.
02:43It is not as simple as stating that the classic risk factors associated with the development
02:49of obesity are excessive calorie consumption along with sedentary lifestyle.
02:55It goes beyond the usual formula of calories in, calories out.
03:01The current obesity epidemic cannot be explained in this way.
03:06Due to the complexity described by the scientific community, we must refer the social environment
03:13and environmental and economic determining factors.
03:15And again, I'll be quick.
03:17Obesogenic digital food environments, lack of investment in health prevention, research,
03:24corona disruption or circadian dysregulation, epigenetics and fetal programming, public awareness
03:31of obesity as a risk factor.
03:34Mental diseases, endocrine disrupting chemicals, dietary patterns, intestinal microbiota, vulnerability
03:43of many communities, lack of knowledge about basic health and self-care issues, and lack of access
03:50and availability of healthy foods.
03:53Because obesity is also a symptom of inequality, as every indicator shows.
03:59As you can see, it's not easy to rigorously address the nature and the defining factors that affect childhood obesity.
04:06Let me just give you a glimpse of two last points for your consideration.
04:11There are sectors of society that have denounced that they consider to be fat-phobic or weight-centric approaches.
04:22It is evident that when a child, and I insist, this applies to one in three.
04:28When a child suffers from this disease, their entire environment, family, school, health system, community,
04:36must help protect and activate the solution because their health and mental condition are at stake.
04:43In this sense, the scientific community is moving towards a shift paradigm in order to have other measuring instruments
04:52beyond BMI and to include body composition and other more precise and comprehensive parameters and biomarkers.
05:02And second, of all the factors that I have mentioned, I want to focus on one to which the WHO
05:09grants special importance,
05:11health literacy.
05:12This concept encompasses the personal knowledge and competencies that accumulate through daily activities
05:19and social interactions and across generation.
05:22And it is a potentially unrecognized visitor determinant because it means the degree to which individuals
05:30have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed
05:39to make appropriate health decisions.
05:42In fact, WHO has been recommended for decades, not only the systematic integration of health literacy
05:51in school curricula, but also raising awareness through hard-hitting campaigns similar to those
05:57against smoking.
05:59There is still much to be done if the epidemic of childhood obesity and overweight continues
06:06to increase.
06:06It could neutralize many of the health benefits that have contributed to achieving current longevity
06:15figures.
06:17It is something that the WHO and Sanja have been warning about for some time.
06:22The path is very difficult, but there are no shortcuts.
06:27Governments, the private sector, societies, health officials, and the scientific community
06:34all know this.
06:36And it is important that all communities and all individuals know it too.
06:42Thank you very much for your attention.
06:44Thank you.
06:44Thank you.
06:51Gracias.
