Obesity and overweight issues

On 11 June the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) held a public hearing on the issue of food labelling in relation to obesity.
On 11 June the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) held a public hearing on the issue of food labelling in relation to obesity- organized by MEPs Magor Imre Csibi and Jules Maaten.
The speakers were Basil Mathioudakis from the European Commission (EC), Kees de Winter from European Consumers’ Organization-> (BEUC), Sabine (...)

The disturbing trend of rising obesity rates must be stopped, said the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) in a new report giving suggestions on how to approach the problem.
The ENVI Committee adopted an own-initiative report on obesity by MEP Alessandro Foglietta, unanimously.
Obesity has great costs on both quality of life and the economy. It already accounts, directly, for about 6% of health spending but the indirect costs are much higher, (...)

In addition to its priority on cancer prevention, the Slovenian Presidency convened a high level conference on nutrition and physical activity to highlight the fight against obesity.
On 11 March 2008, the Slovenian Ministry of Health, organised a conference entitled "Cross-Sectoral Policies for Nutrition and Physical Activity - Implementation and Monitoring" aimed at encouraging cross-sectoral cooperation in relation to nutrition and physical activity policies and monitoring.
Member States (...)

During the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on 17 February 2008, Professor W. Philip T. James, chair of the International Obesity Task Force, claimed for a change of the food production and consumption environments is needed to reduce obesity.
Professor W. Philip T. James, chair of the International Obesity Task Force considers obesity a systemic problem requiring changes to the food production and consumption environments, which are making (...)

Which?, the largest consumer body in the UK, has published the Cartoon Heroes and Villains report to reveal how these characters are used to push children towards foods high in fat, sugar or salt.
The report was launched on 9 August 2007 and agrees with the results of a survey conducted by Which? on 21 August 2007, showing that 75% of parents feel that their efforts to make their children eat healthier are undermined by this kind of labelling.
http://www.which.co.uk/files/applic... Which? (...)

The European Commission, DG Sport, published a new White Paper on Sport on 11 July 2007, with the objective of giving strategic orientation on the role of sport in Europe.
The White Paper on Sport is focused on the societal role of sport which comprises the enhancement of public health through physical activity but also, the economic dimension and organisations in Europe, and the subsequent follow-up of the measures taken.
The White Paper is the result of extensive consultations over (...)

Find here the supporting documents from the February plenary meeting of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health of July 2007.
An important document discussed at this meeting was the future of the Platform beyond 2007.
DG Sanco distributed a discussion paper two days before the meeting took place, and the participants gave their general opinion about the future of the Platform.
Members of the platform are also allowed to send written comments before the end of July 2007, so the (...)

Find here the reports, minutes and related documents from the April plenary meeting of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

Find here the reports, minutes and related documents from the February plenary meeting of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand- an independent bi-national agency responsible for setting food standards - is developing new standards to regulate nutrition and health claims.
The agency has procduced a Preliminary Final Assesment Report which is now open to an additional round of consultation.
Conceptual framework
According to the Report, claims will be classified as nutrition content claims, general level health claims, and high level health claims. Nutrition content claims are (...)