The 40th annual conference of the Greek Endocrinological Society held in Athens heard disturbing news the rate of Greek childhood obesity is the highest in Europe as the Mediterranean diet keeps giving way to fast food.
Childhood obesity is growing across Europe too and setting ignominious records. Yiorgos Mastorakos, President of the Greek Endocrinological Society, stated that 33 percent of teen boys and 16 percent of teen girls are overweight and that the problem is growing as fast as waistlines.
More Greek children and teens are turning to snacks such as croissants and cookies and prefer to consume sugared drinks, such as chocolate milk and tonic, during recess. Greek schools don’t provide lunch, leaving it to students to buy their own in canteens.
Mastorakos stressed that Greece is also highest in overall obesity with a 42 percent rate compared to 38 percent for the European average.
According to a study by the World Health Organization(WHO) in 2005, 28% of Greek men and 25% of Greek women were overweight or obese.
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