Statement to the 72nd Regional Committee for Europe

Statement to the 72nd Regional Committee For Europe

Agenda Item 14 Implementation of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in the WHO European Region 2016-2025. Progress report.

Your excellencies, delegates, and colleagues. I make this statement on behalf of the World Obesity Federation, with support from the European Association for the Study of Obesity, European Federation of Dieticians, European Federation of Nurses Associations, Hungarian Society for the Study of Obesity, International Federation of Medical Students Associations, WONCA Europe, AFERO, Obésités Mode d'Emploi and International Federation on Ageing.

The continued efforts to address and prioritise NCDs across the European region as part of this Action Plan are welcome, however it is concerning that progress has stalled. As recognised in the report, obesity is rising fast with no country on track to meet the global targets. Failing to halt this rise or coordinated long term treatment and management risks jeopardizing Member State’s chances of meeting all NCD targets.

At this year’s World Health Assembly, Member States adopted new global obesity recommendations and accompanying Acceleration Plan. We encourage Member States in the region to include these comprehensive recommendations as part of their efforts to implement this regional strategy on NCDs. Importantly, these comprehensive recommendations provide a framework to use for developing national obesity roadmaps or plans, and for incorporating obesity within wider national NCD plans. We congratulate those countries in the region which are considering or have already put themselves forward as front-runner countries for addressing obesity, and urge them to ensure commitments made are comprehensive, covering prevention and management of obesity throughout the life course, recognising the wide range of root causes of obesity including biology, genetics, food, physical activity, healthcare access, marketing, sleep, stigma and mental health, amongst others.

We stand ready to support efforts across the region. Thank you for your attention.

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