One in two Serbian citizens overweight

One in two Serbian citizens is overweight while a fifth of the population is clinically obese. An international conference on obesity has begun at the Serbian Science Academy, with the goal of looking at all the ways of countering weight problems in Serbia, an increasing phenomenon. One in two Serbian citizens overweight One of the main factors behind the high number of overweight people is poverty, which forces people to eat foods with more flour, potatoes, meat and other fatty foods. Another important problem contributing to obesity is the increase in the popularity of fast food. “Obesity is a pandemic which is here to stay. Even if we stop eating bureks and tulumbas, bacon sandwiches and fast food are always there, both leading to the same result: obesity,” Bogdan Djuricic of the Medical University said. Academic Veselinka Susic said that this was a problem in many countries in transition, because the new way of life imposed new dietary habits too. “With changes in living standards - economic, social, stress-related - the reflex of taking food alters, usually leading to increased consumption. Food is an old, well-known sedative,” Veselinka Susic said. “We have been working intensively over the last year, through the National Commission for Combating Obesity, laying the groundwork for 2008 and thinking of a national plan that would be based on the European strategy,” Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic said. It is important for Serbia to receive a clear and long-term national plan in 2008 to deal with obesity, and at the same time combat malign diseases through prevention and early diagnosis.

One in two Serbian citizens overweight

One of the main factors behind the high number of overweight people is poverty, which forces people to eat foods with more flour, potatoes, meat and other fatty foods.

Another important problem contributing to obesity is the increase in the popularity of fast food.

“Obesity is a pandemic which is here to stay. Even if we stop eating bureks and tulumbas, bacon sandwiches and fast food are always there, both leading to the same result: obesity,” Bogdan Đuričić of the Medical University said.

Academic Veselinka Šušić said that this was a problem in many countries in transition, because the new way of life imposed new dietary habits too.

“With changes in living standards - economic, social, stress-related - the reflex of taking food alters, usually leading to increased consumption. Food is an old, well-known sedative,” Veselinka Šušić said.

“We have been working intensively over the last year, through the National Commission for Combating Obesity, laying the groundwork for 2008 and thinking of a national plan that would be based on the European strategy,” Health Minister Tomica Milosavljević said.

It is important for Serbia to receive a clear and long-term national plan in 2008 to deal with obesity, and at the same time combat malign diseases through prevention and early diagnosis.