Cyprus launches campaign to fight child obesity

Cyprus has launched a three-month campaign to fight child obesity, local press reported on Friday.

The campaign organized by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus ( EAC) with support from the Health Ministry aimed at raising awareness of the right way of life.

Speaking at a press conference marking the start of the campaign, Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides said that obesity and being overweight had become the main contributing factors in chronic ailments including heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Noting the importance of right eating habits, Gavrielides said his Ministry had established this week as Nutrition Week.

"Every year's Food Nutrition Week is centered on a certain theme. This year's chosen theme is childhood obesity," Gavrielides said.

He underlined the importance of reducing obesity, particularly in children, as obese children today may become obese adults tomorrow.

Cypriot relevant authorities have set up a number of informative and practical programs to introduce healthy eating habits to children and their parents.

One in 10 Cypriot children is obese, which makes Cyprus one of the European countries with the highest rate of obesity, Dietetic Association President Eleni Andreou said.

Source: Xinhua