The treatment of obesity and its complications is valued at thousands of euros per patient – The Ministry of Health plans to strengthen actions against the disease.
A recent survey of Greece and three other countries in South-Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania) reflected the unbearable cost of obesity in health and economy.
In these countries, obesity rates have exceeded 20%, and the need to take action is at its peak. The economic burden, which translates to 2.2% of global GDP, includes the costs of diagnosing and treating the disease itself as well as its complications.
“It has about 200 complications, from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes to certain forms of cancer and osteoarthritis,” said Mr. Alexandros Kokkinos, Professor of Pathology at the School of Medicine of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, who participated in the research.
“We know that a person with a body mass index (BMI) >40 has less than a 50% chance of living to 70, compared to 80% for a person with a normal BMI,” he added, making it clear that obese people don’t choose it “but there is a very strong piece of genetic predisposition that reaches 70%.”
According to estimates, by 2025, the global obesity rate will reach 16% in men and 21% in women.
In Europe today, around 60% of adults and a third of children are overweight or obese. In Greece, 50.8% of people with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia suffer from obesity.
Greece pays the highest price
“In Greece, heart failure caused by obesity costs 16,000 euros per person per year, kidney failure 11,000 euros, coronary heart disease with angina 9,000,” said Mr Kokkinos.
Greece pays more for obesity-related comorbidities, with 2.5 times higher costs of heart failure compared to the other countries in the study.
“If we prevent obesity in the child and adolescent population and treat it in adults, no matter how expensive it is, we will save a lot of money by preventing complications,” pointed out Mr. Kokkinos.
“We don’t have magic ways,” he explained, “but we have the hypocaloric diet and exercise—cornerstones for all patients—followed by medication, and as a final option, we have bariatric surgery, which reduces the risk of death by 40-50%.”
The research concludes that financial relief for health systems will only come from a shift to preventive care models.
It further finds that less than 3% of total health spending in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries is invested in prevention policies.
Prevention is not a lost cause
“Obesity is one of the most important threats of the 21st century,” said the Deputy Minister of Health, Irini Agapidaki, at the beginning of her speech at the event entitled ” The Economic and Social Impact of Obesity,” organised by Novo Nordisk Hellas, the funder of the study.
The state emphasised that Ms. Agapidakis has an integrated action plan to deal with the disease of obesity in all age groups, investing in prevention through awareness-raising, education, and early intervention actions.
“The bet of prevention has not been lost,” she emphasised.
“For the first time in Greece, we have a National Action against Childhood Obesity, with awareness of the population throughout the country through interactive activities, an educational program for schools, while at the same time, there are free examinations by a doctor, free sports activities, free sessions with nutritionists.
“In other words, we have an integrated approach that is applied at the local, regional and national level.
“At the same time, we have planned and will immediately implement a corresponding program for preventing and treating adult obesity. Our goal is to offer citizens all the necessary tools and support for a life full of health and well-being.”
Social justice remains at the core of obesity policies:
“We tend to equate overcoming social inequalities with everyone having access to health services. But the issue is equal results,” she said.
“We don’t want the child born into a poorer family just to have access to a free pediatrician or nutritionist. In 10 years, we want them to have the same health results – to fill the gap – as a child from a richer family.
“To develop his biological, mental and social potential, as each of us should and has the right to – because we live once and forget it many times.”
Integrated approach and six interventions
“Today, for the first time, we have national data that allow us to better understand the needs of the population and plan effective interventions for the coming years,” said the minister, who mentioned among the strengthening efforts:
“Changes in canteens: Nutritional policies—you will see them with legislation in the next period. We are working on them with the newly established Nutrition Policy Committee, in which SEVT (Association of Greek Food Industries) also participates. For example, we will develop new guidelines together with the Minister of Education, Mr. Pierrakakis, and change school canteens so that children have access to healthy snacks.
“Reducing sodium intake: Dietary policies will be implemented at the national level to horizontally reduce salt and sugar intake.
“Updating nutritional guides, which had been stagnant for about ten years. We are entering a process to create a comprehensive framework for political nutrition that goes beyond simply providing free sessions with nutritionists.
“Support from the program to train 10,000 Primary Health Care professionals so they know how to support health behaviour change, and in January 2025, mobile primary care teams (doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers) will reach the whole country.
“A special screening program for children, which we will discuss in the coming months.
“Interactive events: Activities through experiential play for children and parents about nutrition, exercise, etc.”
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