WRITTEN QUESTION E-2101/02

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 July 2002)

Subject: Obesity

Research carried out in a number of EU Member States, including the Netherlands, shows that the average European eats, drinks and smokes too much and takes too little exercise, leading to excess weight. Heart and vascular disease (including thrombosis) have become public enemy No 1. The increasing prominence given to the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle is proving to have little effect. The various policy initiatives adopted are often targeted at combating the symptoms of obesity and of being overweight, instead of taking a structural approach to tackling the causes of the problem (namely too little sport and not enough exercise). A good example is the European tobacco directive, which has been implemented in part in the Netherlands, witness the new labelling on packets of cigarettes. Success in achieving the intended effect, namely curbing smoking, is so far belied by the facts.

This is a worrying situation, bearing in mind that the spin-off from so-called Western diseases goes beyond the implications for the health of European citizens. The high health costs associated with such diseases hold down economic growth and prevent the higher labour market participation rates considered necessary with a view to achieving further growth. These trends consequently have the potential to frustrate the Lisbon process.

Given that these problems are not confined to the Netherlands, it is appropriate to speak of a European problem calling for a corresponding approach. European policy measures could promote sport and exercise within society. This would mean tackling causes, rather than symptoms, on a Europe-wide basis, leading to a structural solution.

1. Is the Commission aware of the above trends?

2. Does the Commission intend to take steps to propose a policy to promote sport and exercise in the Member States and, where possible, to require, for example in connection with educational curricula or employment, or wherever possible, that they be linked as a requirement to European financial assistance?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission is well aware of the trend of increasing obesity in the Member States. Although data collected by Eurostat referring to 1989 and 1996 only show a limited increase in the prevalence of obesity (measured by Body-Mass Index BMI), the Commission foresees that new comparable data for 2002, which will be available next year, will confirm the upwards trend in obesity found in several national and international studies.

The Commission has a restricted mandate in the area of education since the content of teaching and the organisation of the education systems are totally Member States' responsibility. Thus, the Commission cannot link any such requirements to financial or other assistance in this area. However, the Commission may contribute to the development of environments conducive health by bringing decision-makers and scientists together, and by promoting examples of good practice, as is currently being done in the project European Network of Health Promoting Schools, a joint Commission, Council of Europe and World Health Organisation project.

In addition, in its recent report on the concrete future objectives of education systems, the Commission identified specific cases where associating education and sport is particularly appropriate(1). Furthermore, the Commission is aware that sport is a valuable tool for promoting relevant aims in education, such as education in a multicultural framework, supporting disadvantaged pupils, countering school failure and heading off social exclusion, which the Union supports in particular through the Comenius action for school education.

The Commission has recently submitted a proposal for a decision of the Parliament and the Council establishing the European Year of Education through Sport 2004(2). Its aims are i. a. to encourage sport in the school curriculum, to fight against the sedentary nature of the school population and thus contribute to improve pupils' physical wellbeing. The decision provides financial support for transnational, national, regional or local initiatives to promote the stated objectives, in particular for events designed to disseminate the educational values of sport and to provide information and examples of good practice.

The new Public Health Programme (2003-2008) includes activities relating to collection of health data as well as actions on health determinants. Prevention of obesity will figure amongst the activities to be undertaken.

The Commission is currently reflecting on how to develop a coherent Community strategy on obesity within this programme, to tackle the unfortunate trend of increasing proportions of the population being overweight or obese and physically inactive, which in turn leads to escalated costs and public health problems at a large scale. Such a strategy will have to be based on measures for nutrition and physical activity, in order to prevent and manage this global, epidemic-like development.

(1) COM(2001) 59 final, the concrete future objectives of education systems.

(2) OJ C 25 E, 29.1.2002.