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Obesity rates in Europe have more than doubled in the past 40 years, with over half of EU adults and nearly one in three children in the WHO Europe region now overweight or obese.
To develop solutions to this crisis, EuropeActive recently attended an event at the European Parliament called Connecting the dots: obesity, digestive diseases and cancers, hosted by MEP Romana Jerković and organised by United European Gastroenterology.
Key takeaways to share are firstly that obesity isn't a personal choice, but is often shaped by environments, inequality and stigma.
Language matters – delegates were advised to avoid blaming people, instead focusing on systemic change.
While the scale of the obesity epidemic is enormous, requiring bold policy interventions, as well as mass media campaigns and educational programmes, physical activity must be recognised as a key part of the solution.
The event highlighted the powerful preventative and therapeutic role of physical activity in supporting a healthy body weight and improving overall health and quality of life.
There was also a focus on the growing need to integrate exercise professionals into healthcare systems to support cardiovascular health and preserve muscle function.
Experts advised that prevention efforts must target all age groups, with particular focus on children.
Tackling obesity calls for collaboration and the sector can play a meaningful role by supporting prevention.
Jerković said: “We’ve started connecting the dots, now it’s time to draw the line and create policies that are coherent, collaborative and impactful.”
The World Health Organization’s guidelines provide a blueprint for physical activity, however, many countries struggle to implement them, highlighting the need for a population-based approach to complement existing programmes.
We need options that support people in making the journey from being inactive to being active, without expecting them to jump straight to meeting WHO guidelines.
A complementary programme, called Movement is Wellbeing, encourages people to explore exercise by encouraging sustainable physical activity that emphasises the positive emotions associated with movement, including enjoyment, social connection and purpose.
This reframes the message in ways that resonate, creating a desire to be more active and encouraging people to seek improvements in their health, rather than focusing on goals associated with Exercise is Medicine, such as weight loss and high levels of fitness.
Movement is Wellbeing also acts as a bridge to Exercise is Medicine, making the transition easier.
It isn’t a replacement for the Exercise is Medicine message, but an alternative for those who struggle with traditional exercise approaches or who are more motivated by feeling good in the moment.
It also provides choices that are convenient, enjoyable, affordable, unintimidating, sustainable and achievable, while also fostering active habits, self-selection, emotional attachment and social connection.
There’s an emphasis on small changes over time, education and a sense of identity, all of which are cornerstones of creating active lifestyles.
Not meeting the WHO guidelines for physical activity and exhibiting sedentary behaviour that threatens quality of life and undermines good health and wellbeing.
Taking every opportunity to engage in any activity at any speed and for any amount of time, with whomever you like at any venue and at any time.
Priorities: Physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing
Messages:
1. You’re not alone if you find it difficult to maintain motivation to exercise.
2. You don’t have to do very much physical activity to improve health and wellbeing.
3. Building daily intermittent movement into everyday life to break up prolonged periods of physical inactivity is the cornerstone of health and wellbeing.
4. Every life-based movement counts in improving health and wellbeing.
5. Consistency over intensity – muscle-organ cross-talk can reduce inflammation.
Exercise is Medicine treats chronic diseases to allow you to live a longer, higher quality life. Healthcare systems think of exercise as a medication that should be prescribed for patients.
Priorities: Better body image, weight loss, peak fitness, general health improvements
Recommendations
1. Exercise at moderate intensity for 150 - 300 minutes per week.
2. Exercise at vigorous intensity for 75 - 150 minutes per week.
3. Perform resistance exercises on two days each week.
4. Limit sedentary time and replace it with activity.
5. Perform activity that emphasises balance (older adults).
