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Half of Belgians overweight, says survey
Half of Belgians are overweight, and about 14% are obese, according to the most recent health survey conducted by the Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP).
The number of overweight people in Belgium has only gone up since the first WIV-ISP health survey in 1997, when 41% of Belgians were overweight, and 11% obese. The current results show that half of the Belgian population is now overweight, and 14% obese, report De Morgen, De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad.
According to WIV-ISP spokesman Stefaan Demarest, the results are likely lower than the actual figures, because respondents tend to overestimate their height and underestimate their weight. "The biggest danger we see is that there are so many overweight people that it is becoming the new standard. And there is no sign that a change is coming,” says Demarest.
WIV-ISP is therefore urging the government to step up the emphasis on prevention, and to focus on youth and lower socio-economic groups. Flemish Health Minister Jo Vandeurzen will next year launch a new health objective around nutrition and exercise, and set up a working group to get advice on the possible introduction of a ‘fat tax’, a tax on foods with a high saturated fat content.
Comments
I would like to report that this article is completely wrong. In Belgium "the food" is fantastic, healthy (unlike the UK where veg from the market is very unhealthy and bad) and all those people lining up ten deep at the friture to eat grey unidentifiable Mmmmmm-mora are foreigners.
Belgians fat? What complete nonsense. Next we'll be getting told they drink like fishes and smoke as if fags were healthy and free and that perhaps they are not all saints? Nah, the Brussels bubble wants to hear non of that! ;-)
I recommend looking at this website which propose a healthy lifestyle www.chezpinkelephant.com.
"Fat" people are often portrayed as being jovial and kindly (Father Christmas for one!). And not only portrayed : research at McMasters University in Canada recently revealed the 'fat gene' to also be a 'happy gene'! So?
Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are often more expensive especially when one is on a limited budget or unemployment benefits; so ones choices are limited.
It is known that a lot of food contains far too much salt and sugar and hidden unhealthy chemicals and the commercial food industry just changes the name.
Also people's lifestyles have changed and are far too busy and leaves them with very limited time to cook, so grab a ready made convenient microwave meal. People have also forgotten how to cook.
It's a myth that fresh fruit and vegetables are more expensive that eating Mmmmm-mora. It's total crap to suggest otherwise. Have you seen the price of a portion of chips versus a bag of potatoes?
Of all the people in the EU, the Belgians have less time constraints than others due to their oh so well protected quality of life, milk and honey and all of that. They are as lazy as any other and the evidence can be seen all around you.
Well, those who were at work today.
@Mikak13 - Yet another Hitlerian tirade , about vegetables this time. How come you don't you write a book explaining why chips ought to be illegal, not to mention the entire country eradicated ? Isn't there such a thing as Fish 'n Chips in Britain, by the way?... Very little milk and honey in it... (Sorry I spoke).
There is indeed fish and chips in Britain. What has that to do with Belgium?
@Mikak13 -- And why would you care? If fish and chips do not really go together somehow. English breakfast 'au complet' is famous and far better!