This report on obesity in the WHO European Region is published by the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.
This report examines the growing challenge and impact of obesity in the Region, building on past publications and aligning with initiatives to tackle cancer. The report focuses on managing obesity throughout the life course and tackling obesogenic environments; it also considers more recent challenges, including problematic digital marketing to children and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity prevalence.
Policy options to prevent obesity are outlined for consideration by Member States together with a suite of population-level approaches.
The report highlights the importance of including prevention and control of obesity within measures to build back better in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing obesity is critical towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and is a priority in the European Programme of Work 2020–2025: United Action for Better Health.