Health and Consumption remembers that a healthy lifestyle helps prevent obesity | Andalusian Health Service

The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs is promoting awareness and reflection on healthy lifestyles as part of World Obesity Day 2024, celebrated annually on 4 March with the support of the World Obesity Federation. With the theme “Let’s Talk About Obesity”, this anniversary in 2024 aims to raise awareness of obesity, encourage better health and improve policies to create healthy environments that will help prevent it.

According to the World Obesity Federation, in 2035, 1.9 billion people worldwide will be living with obesity, that is, almost one in four people. In 2035, approximately 400 million children worldwide will be obese, representing one in five children. Childhood obesity will increase by more than 100% between 2020 and 2035, while adult obesity will increase by more than 60% during this period. Prevalence among men will increase from 14% to 23% (73% increase), and prevalence among women will increase from 18% to 27% (50% increase).

Andalusia is updating the Andalusian Integrated Plan to Combat Childhood Obesity (PIOBIN), an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs through the General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation. The purpose of this review process is to develop a strategic plan that involves all social actors, institutions and citizens to find a solution to the increasing prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents, which will impact on improving their health and quality of care. life.

The three strategic directions of the future plan are: communication and awareness of the Andalusian population; Health promotion and primary prevention; Healthcare and information systems. Participating experts include health promotion and communications specialists, specialists in pediatrics, endocrinology, nursing, social work, representatives of the Confederation of Parents’ Associations and UNICEF, social workers, specialists in psychology and sports science and others.

Watermelon Network is a web-based platform created by professionals specializing in childhood obesity. The Web has a public area designed for families and the general public that provides a variety of materials such as infographics, videos, guides, and explanatory brochures that provide evidence-based advice to families. The PIOBIN website offers a variety of materials to commemorate World Obesity Day, as well as a newsletter prepared specifically for the celebration.

Among other actions, last year saw the presentation of the Strategic Plan for Health for Children and Adolescents 2023-2027, whose main mission is to promote the health and well-being of Andalusian children and adolescents. To this end, health policies and actions will be encouraged to prevent, promote, care, protect and restore health, raise awareness of the importance of healthy maturation, promote a culture of public health as a source of personal development and self-care, address the determinants of child health and optimize adapting socio-medical interventions to their age, personal characteristics and environment.

In addition, work is underway to develop a Strategy for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Andalusia, with an expected presentation in the first half of this year. The goal is to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the lifespan with the aim of improving the health and well-being of the Andalusian population through various programs and actions in different environments and areas of activity, many of which are already under development.