Nutrition and health
Changed eating habits abet obesity
In Europe today, obesity is assuming epidemic proportions.
Indeed, the number of our obese citizens has tripled during the last twenty years, and their numbers are still increasing. If nothing is done, the World Health Organisation (WHO) expects that, by 2010, there will be around 150 million obese European adults (20% of the population) and 15 million obese European children and adolescents (10% of the population).
Part of the reason behind this development is our changed eating habits: European citizens eat too much and do not exercise enough. In addition, the food we eat is too fatty and too sweet. Scientists consider the increased intake of fat to be one of the main causes of increasing obesity figures. The proportion of animal fats in our food increased from 20% to 43% over the last two decades. According to the WHO, Europeans consume, on average, 150g of fat per head per day. 80g is the maximum daily amount recommended as part of a healthy diet.
Additionally, the increased range of foods now on offer tempts us to eat more. According to the WHO a woman needs about 2,000 kcal a day to maintain her weight; men need about 2,500 kcal. In 1961, people had an average 2,300 kcal at their daily disposal; by 1968 this had increased to 2,800 kcal. By 2015 it is likely to have increased to over 3,000 kcal a day.
Another factor that is promoting obesity: At the beginning of the 20th century our annual intake of sugar was less than 5kg per person – these days, in Europe, that figure is somewhere between 40 and 60kg. At the same time, we do not consume enough fruit and vegetables.
The strategy for addressing this obesity epidemic according to the WHO should have the following three cornerstones: Decreased consumption of fat and sugar, increased consumption of meals based around fruit and vegetables and increased physical exercise.
This article was published on 05/01/2007
