When I was a child in the 70s, the comics we read portrayed the world with a simplicity that today seems almost naive. The low-income characters appeared thin, while the rich were drawn with plump bodies, a symbol of abundance.
Today, this reality has taken an ironic turn: it is the less favored classes that suffer from obesity, while a balanced and healthy diet has become a symbol of high purchasing power.
In recent decades, we have witnessed an alarming transformation in eating habits, driven by the proliferation of ultra-processed products, full of sugars, fats and additives. These foods, designed to be irresistible and accessible, have invaded our tables, and what is worse, those of our children, in a context of poor nutritional education and little regulation.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 23% of children in Spain are overweight, and 17% are obese. These figures reflect an epidemic that also affects the adult population, where 34.3% of people aged 18 and over were overweight and 14.1% obese in 2022, according to the INE Living Conditions Survey. This epidemic carries serious risks, since obesity is associated with diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular problems.
Outside Europe, many countries have adopted bold measures in recent years. Chile and Peru enacted laws to require front-facing, highly visible labeling for products with high levels of calories, sugars, saturated fats or sodium. The Philippines and Mexico imposed taxes on sugary drinks. For its part, Uruguay banned the sale of ultra-processed foods in schools, and Japan has established food education to teach, from an early age, the importance of a balanced diet, traditional cuisine and the relationship between food, health and the culture.
Europe, on the other hand, seems to be lagging behind. Although the European Union has shown intentions to advance food regulation and some countries apply Nutriscore, efforts have been insufficient and, in many cases, diluted by the influence of corporate interests that prefer to keep consumers in the dark about what actually contain the products they buy. In this context, advertising, sometimes misleading, continues to sell us products with health promises that they do not fulfill.
The right to food, as defined in article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is not limited to having access to food; It also implies that it is healthy, nutritious, diverse and culturally appropriate. However, in many parts of Europe, this right is being compromised by a food market that puts economic profit before public health.
According to FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture in 2023, the health costs of non-communicable diseases as a consequence of dietary habits in Europe were €114.8 billion per year. This represents 26% of the total costs that food systems imply for the environment, health and social environment. In Spain, diseases related to obesity generate a cost of approximately 5,000 million euros annually in the health system, without counting the losses in productivity and the impacts on quality of life.
Despite this gloomy outlook, movements are emerging in Spain that offer a ray of hope. Citizen initiatives such as local agriculture, organic markets and conscious consumption are gaining strength. These movements not only promote healthier eating, but also defend a sustainable and ethical production model that respects both the environment and people.
It is essential that food policy is not hijacked by corporate interests that harm the population. Public administrations have the responsibility to protect the right to adequate nutrition, which includes measures such as clear and transparent labeling, restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy foods and the promotion of effective nutritional education from childhood.
We cannot allow our health and that of future generations to be in the hands of those who prioritize profit over collective well-being. It is time for Spain, and Europe in general, to take note of the successful examples in other regions and commit to protecting the health of its citizens with the seriousness that the situation demands. Only in this way can we aspire for a balanced diet to be a right and not a privilege, and for everyone’s health to be at the center of our public policies.
#adequate #food #obesity #challenge #Spain #Europe #today #future
