Obesity in the European region: social aspects, epidemiology and preventive strategies

Obesity related to metabolic syndrome is gaining an increasing importance as the main risk factor for diseases and disability in the European region. We herein review the increasing trend of obesity and overweight in males and females from Europe, preventive programs addressed to children, youngsters, adult population and subjects with particular diseases which can profit from healthy nutrition. The main feature is that some European countries have implemented programs on World Health Organization (WHO) proposals, while some others have focused attention only on some aspects. Based on the reported obesity increase over the last twenty years, prevention programs seem to have been ineffective. Most likely, the effects will be observed later on. In this concern, it will be fundamental to continue and finance the countries of the European region, where those programs have been extensively applied, to obtain even better results in terms of obesity prevention.