2014_05_29_FAR_premio-alimentacion-salud

"Together with Greece, Spain is the third European country with the highest rate of childhood obesity. Thirty-four percent of school-age children are obese or overweight," said Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida, Professor of Nutrition and President of the Portuguese Society of Nutrition and Food Sciences, on the occasion of submission of the X award International Food and Health. This award linked to the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics of the University of Navarra is awarded annually to prestigious national and international researchers and academics who stand out in the fields of food and health. 

Among other distinctions, Vaz de Almeida has received the award José Mataix from the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Food Sciences. His most recent research focuses on the determinants of food consumption in children, how the diet of the elderly determines their quality of life and consumer attitudes towards personalized nutrition.

21st century pandemic prevails in southern Europe

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers obesity and overweight to be the pandemic of the 21st century. It has increased at an alarming rate in children and is one of the most serious public health problems. According to data of the WHO, some 43 million children under five years of age are obese or overweight.

In Europe, between 10% and 36% of school-age children are affected. The highest percentages are found in Mediterranean countries. According to María Daniel Vaz de Almeida, this "is due to the fact that in the last three decades of the 20th century, in countries such as Spain, Italy or Greece, the accelerated pace of economic and social changes has led to a different lifestyle, with less physical activity and changes in food consumption patterns".

"This has been a very rapid phenomenon, like an explosion," the expert stresses. On the contrary, she points out that it happens in northern European countries where "they have been investing in nutritional policies for years, promoting physical exercise and a varied food offer in schools". For this reason, Vaz de Almeida insists that prevention, even during pregnancy, is core topic to avoid this global public health problem: "To fight it is to avoid it".