Prevention
Overweight and obesity, as well as their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable. As there are many different causes of obesity, prevention requires an integrated approach that includes many stakeholders beyond the health authorities. Prevention recommendations include:
On the individual level
- Keeping calorie intake and burning in balance.
- Limiting fatty and sugary food and replacing those with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Increasing physical activity levels.
Research relating to what influences dietary and exercise habits and whether specific dietary components influence obesity risk is ongoing.
On the societal level
- Governments, civil society and the private sector have vital roles to play in shaping an environment that makes it easier for people to eat more healthily and move more.
- This is especially important for children, who have fewer choices about the food they eat and the environment in which they live.
- Measures being taken, considered or studied include better nutrition labeling, changes in food marketing practices, improved road and urban planning, changes in common portion sizes, attention to specific dietary components and initiatives to encourage healthier habits.
