Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain explore tackling obesity

Improving Lifestyle and Health (International Perspective)

May 11 is the World Obesity Day designated by the World Health Organization. According to WHO, more than 650 million adults worldwide are obese to varying degrees, and about 1.3 billion are overweight. WHO, the World Federation Against Obesity and others have called on countries to take measures to address the problem and improve people's health. In recent years, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries have explored ways to address the health and social challenges posed by obesity by formulating national strategic plans and improving diagnosis and treatment standards and procedures, and encouraging people to improve their lifestyles and improve their health.

　　Mexico –

　　Introduce warning labels to limit sugary drinks

　　Almost 4 out of 10 people over the age of 15 in Mexico suffer from obesity. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted in a report last November that the increase in obesity has led to a high incidence of diabetes among Mexicans, affecting 16.9 percent of the country's population.

　　In 2016, Mexican health authorities classified obesity as a public health emergency. In October 2019, Mexico's House of Representatives voted to pass a bill requiring an octagonal warning label to label unhealthy food ingredients on food packaging. For example, label words such as "excess calories", "excess sugar", "excess saturated fat", "excess trans fat", "excess sodium", and so on. This practice has received good feedback from the community.

　　According to UNICEF, warning labels for high-calorie foods and beverages in Mexico are very useful, with simple design and intuitive information that educate consumers about the specific factors that contribute to overweight and obesity. Mexico's National Institute of Public Health estimates that the widespread use of warning labels can reduce Mexicans' daily caloric intake by 37 kilocalories. Within 5 years after the implementation of the warning label, 1.3 million new cases of obesity can be avoided, and the prevalence of obesity will be reduced by 14.7%.

　　The Mexican Institute of Social Security has also developed a diet and exercise program supervised by pediatricians, endocrinologists and nutritionists specifically for obese children. Dietitians instruct parents to choose a calorie-specific menu for obese children, ensuring that the nutrients are needed during the child's growth and development stage while reducing calorie intake. Since 2014, the Mexican government has also imposed a tax on sugary drinks, an 8% tax on high-calorie foods such as chocolate and ice cream, and restrictions on the time when advertisements for sugary drinks and sweets can be broadcast.

　　A variety of activities are organized by all sectors of the Mexican society to encourage people to participate in physical exercise and develop healthy living habits. In Mexico City, for example, the city launches a weekly "Make You Healthy" community sports program, organizes activities such as "In Mexico City, You Dance Like This" and "Cycling", and recruits professionals to lead people in sports activities.

　　Netherlands –

　　Implement an action plan to treat and prevent at the same time

　　According to data released by the Dutch Central Statistics Office a few days ago, in 2023, the proportion of obese people over 20 years old in the Netherlands will reach 16%, and more than 1/3 of the population will be overweight. Overall, about half of people aged 20 and over are overweight or obese, up from 33% in the early 80s. Another survey released by the Netherlands shows that the country spends 79 billion euros annually on health and other social expenses due to overweight and obesity.

　　In the face of the health challenges posed by obesity, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports has proposed a policy of equal emphasis on treatment and prevention, and has launched an action plan to reduce the proportion of overweight people and reduce the incidence of diabetes and other related diseases. In 2008, the "Dutch Overweight Partner" program was launched, with the participation of more than 20 related institutions such as the Dutch Association of General Practitioners, the Association of Dietitians, and health insurance companies, aiming to provide medical treatment, consultation and other services for overweight and obese groups, and formulate scientific weight loss programs.

　　In August 2023, the Dutch government and relevant participating institutions published the latest version of the "Guidelines for Overweight and Obesity in Adults" under the framework of the "Dutch Overweight Partners" program. According to the plan, professionals develop different diagnosis and treatment standards and treatment procedures for different types of overweight and obese people, and provide early warning and treatment information for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

　　The Netherlands divides overweight and obesity into five grades, with surgery performed only in the most severe cases, and other levels mainly intervening through dietary regulation and scientific exercise. According to the Dutch Overweight Partners, the goal of the first year of treatment is to lose 5 to 10 percent of body weight; In the second year, the focus is on consolidating the results of treatment and preventing weight regain; After that, long-term observation and health risk assessment are required.

　　In order to encourage people to develop a good lifestyle, the Dutch House of Representatives also recently decided to impose a consumption tax on sugary drinks such as lemonade and fruit juice, which will be implemented from 2026. Through these initiatives, the Dutch government hopes to increase health awareness and reduce obesity rates.

　　Spain –

　　Nutrition education to reduce childhood obesity

　　According to the National Population Nutrition Survey released by Euronews' website at the beginning of this year, 22% of the population in Spain is obese, and another 31.6% of the population is overweight. Among them, 34% of people aged 3 to 24 are overweight or obese; This figure is 40 per cent for children between the ages of 3 and 8.

　　According to a study by the Spanish Society for Cardiovascular Research, the obesity rate among people under the age of 25 in Spain has continued to rise, from 3% in 1984 to 10.3% at present, resulting in an increase in the probability of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the problem of obesity among adolescents in Spain is very serious and has become a problem for the whole country.

　　To this end, in 2022, the Spanish government released a National Strategic Plan for Reducing Childhood Obesity 2022-2030, which plans more than 200 measures in six aspects, including promoting sports, advocating healthy diets, and increasing the promotion of healthy lifestyles. For example, increasing the duration of on-campus and off-campus sports activities, opening campus sports venues and facilities to students after school, and strengthening nutrition and dietary health education in schools. The plan sets a target of reducing the number of obese children by 25% by 2030. At the same time, the Spanish government has reduced the cost of school meals for children from low-income families, so that they can have more opportunities to eat a balanced diet.

　　The Spanish government has also introduced a nutrition scoring labelling system, which classifies food products into five grades according to their nutritional content, and clearly labels them on the outer packaging so that the public can intuitively understand their nutritional information. In 2021, the Spanish government announced a ban on television, radio, and social media to ban ads for unhealthy foods targeting children, including sweets, cookies, high-calorie beverages, and foods deemed harmful to health by the World Health Organization.