OECD overweight due to economic crises

More and more overweight and obese people in Europe

04/12/2014

Overweight and obesity are a growing problem worldwide with massive consequences for the health of the population. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has in its current report „Health at a glance: Europe 2014“ a worrying increase in the proportion of obese people in the total population in almost all European countries. „The economic crisis is likely to have contributed significantly to the further growth of obesity“, This is the message of the OECD.

The study authors of the OECD see a clear link between economic crises, associated social emergencies and the growing proportion of overweight or obese people. For example, according to OECD figures, the proportion of obese people in the total population has risen to 21 percent, for example in Greece. In Spain, too, the proportion of obese people is now similar to that in Germany, for example, where in 2013 around 16 percent of the population was overweight. Although Germany has come through the economic crisis much better than many other countries, obesity and obesity have been a rapidly growing problem in recent years.

Increase in obesity in Germany
According to OECD figures, the proportion of obese people in Germany rose from 11.4 per cent in 1999 to 13 per cent in 2003, 15 per cent in 2009 and around 16 per cent in 2013. This shows a clear weakening trends in recent years, but the proportion of obese people continues to increase. Overall, Germany today is at about the same level as the average of all OECD countries. The United States, for example, has a significantly higher proportion of obese people in the total population of 28.6 percent in 2012.

Obesity and obesity are a serious health problem
„The growth of overweight and obesity in adults is a serious health problem“, warns the OECD. Because obesity is „a known risk factor for many health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.“ Due to the association with chronic diseases, the increasing proportion of obese people is associated with considerable additional health costs. The OECD report comes according to the news agency „dpa“ but in some places also to positive results. For example, between 2000 and 2011, the mortality rate of clinically-supplied heart attack patients had been reduced by 40 percent, and stroke patients had dropped by more than 20 percent over the same period. Here, the significantly improved emergency care or the access of patients to special care facilities (stroke units for strokes, for example) have contributed to significantly better survival chances for patients. Also, the cure for cancer had improved significantly in many European countries. Overall, life expectancy within the European Union (EU) has risen from an average of 74 years in 1990 to 79.2 years in 2012. (Fp)