More than 1 in 10 Luxembourgers would need to lose a few kilos to meet body mass index standards. A share that is increasing in the country, particularly among young people.
The question of the average weight of the population regularly comes up to worry Luxembourg. It is true that like many Western countries, the Grand Duchy is growing. Today, we estimate that 17% the share of the population concerned by theobesity. With excess weight which would concern much more these gentlemen (40%) than the ladies (24%), by the way…
If the authorities have been aware of this progression for years and have multiplied health warnings or initiatives – such as the program Eat healthy, move more (Eat healthy and move more), nothing seems to alleviate the phenomenon. And we now arrive at a society where 1 in 5 children are overweighteven obese.
The Luxembourg Minister of Health has just taken stock of the situation. And Martine Deprez still notes that this obesity rate among 11-18 year olds is growing at breakneck speed : from 14% of this age group concerned in 2026, we now arrive at 21%.
Education, well-being and Co.
Stress psychological for some teenagers, lack of activity physical for otherspoor diet for many: the causes are multiple. But when analyzing national data carefully, Martine Delprez notes that weight gain varies a lot according to education level family or individual. Thus, the lower this level, the greater the proportion of obese people.
Same observation to be made with the level of well-being perceived. The lower this factor is judged by a young person, the more “risk” they have of ending up in overweight-obesity.
For Minister Deprez, it is above all appropriate that Luxembourg don’t fall into “fatphobia”. And also that everyone realizes that weight gain can be a sign of behavioral problems, psychological pain but also health problems.
Moreover, the country is studying the avenue of recognition of obesity like a chronic illness. « This can be the first step towards better care and less stigma », Judge Martine Deprez. And if the health authorities take this problem so seriously, it is because it generates a lot of public expenditure if it is not sufficiently taken into account.
We know that being overweight leads to increased risk to develop certain diseases such ashypertensionand AVCof the cancersand diabetes type 2 orsleep apnea For example. So many disorders that will require expensive treatment.
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