The new national plan to combat childhood obesity in Greece

The strategy of the Ministry of Health to deal with childhood obesity, an important problem in Greece, is unfolding

The Deputy Minister of Health, Eirini Agapidaki, established a seven-member Steering Committee to run the childhood obesity program.

The Ministry of Health is implementing a three-level plan with the aim of reducing obesity that threatens young children and their adult lives with many diseases and problems. It is estimated that nearly 4 out of 10 children in Greece aged 2-14 are obese.

Ministry of Health: Actions on childhood obesity begin with chefs and vegetable gardens

The National Action to combat childhood obesity in Greece aims to reduce the prevalence of obesity in children aged 2 to 14 years from 37.5% (2019) to 24.5% in 2025. The program includes actions at the primary level and secondary and tertiary prevention and is one of the few integrated programs that have been implemented in the European Union.

At the first level, the school has an important role. Specifically, for children aged 4-17, special programs will be included during school hours, such as learning healthy eating patterns and a cooking competition to highlight the healthiest recipe.

In addition, cultivating vegetable gardens by the children themselves will "educate" them about seasonal products and help them recognise the healthiest ones. Clubs and programs that encourage physical activity are also expected to be created—for example, basketball teams and walking clubs.

The Steering Committee established by Mrs. Agapidaki consists of the following members:

• FOTEINI KOULOURI, Head of the General Directorate of Public Health and Quality of Life of the Ministry of Health, with deputy IOANNI PETROCHEILOS of the Department of Public Health Physicians of the National Health Service, Deputy Head of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition of the Directorate of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene of the Ministry of Health.
• ANASTASIA LEVANTI, Director of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Health, with IOANNA KONTELE as deputy of the PE Dietetics branch, specialising in Dietetics, who serves in the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition of the Directorate of Public Health and Hygienic Environment of the Ministry of Health.
• MATTHAIOU STAMATINA, Lawyer, Associate of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Health, with deputy SOTIRIOU EVANGELIA, PE Dietetics branch, specialising in Dietetics, who serves in the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition of the Directorate of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene of the Ministry of Health.
• GALATI CHRYSANTHI, Lawyer, Associate of the Office of the Deputy Minister of Health, with deputy VLACHO PANAGIOTIS, of the PE Administrative-Finance branch, with a specialisation in Administrative Finance, who serves in the Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition Department of the Directorate of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene of the Ministry of Health.
• PLAKANTONAKI ASPASIA, Deputy Representative of the UNICEF Office in Greece, with deputy KAZAKOU MYRSINI, Head of Child Protection Programs of UNICEF.
• ANGELAKI ANTIGONI, Head of Child Protection Sector – UNICEF Project Coordinator, with deputy KOUVARA EVDOKIA, UNICEF Program Manager.
• VLACHAKIS SOKRATIS, Program Compliance Officer of UNICEF, with deputy ALEXANDRO KOKKORIS, Program Assistant of UNICEF.

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