Policy responses to obesity failing, EU experts admit

Europe needs to find new ways of tackling obesity as traditional prevention measures clearly appear to be failing, according to EU policymakers and health experts. In just a few decades, obesity is expected to weigh heavily on Europe's healthcare systems and become the cause of many other illnesses.

As a risk factor behind chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes type 2, obesity is expected to increase the pressure on already stressed healthcare systems, experts told a conference in the European Parliament organised on the 18 June 2013 by the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), a think tank.

EurActiv also reported on experts saying that food and drinks taxes still haven't been proved to be an effective way of combating obesity in Europe. However, the taxes, introduced by many European governments, could be a way forward but they have to be part of a holistic approach.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Rising EU obesity rings alarm bells in Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/rising-eu-obesity-rings-alarm-bells-in-brussels/

EurActiv, 21.06.13: Experts say food and drinks taxes not enough to combat obesity http://www.euractiv.com/health/experts-food-drinks-taxes-combat-news-528752

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