The childhood obesity crisis in Bulgaria

More than 300,000 children in Bulgaria are overweight or obese, according to data presented during the Second National Congress on Obesity. According to Prof. Dr. Teodora Handjieva-Darlenska, our country is among the nations with the highest levels of the problem in Europe, with almost every third child affected.

The forecasts are chilling: by 2040, 26,000 young people will suffer from high blood pressure and a high body mass index if measures are not taken.

International trends and solutions

The President of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), Prof. Volkan Yumuk, noted that in developed Western countries, a plateau or even a slight decline in childhood obesity has been observed since 2000. According to him, the key to change lies in:

  • Improving nutritional habits through a better understanding of the technological processes in food processing.
  • Comparative analyses between countries to implement successful practices.
  • Social and economic policies that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

The role of the general practitioner

Dr. Tatyana Mateva emphasized that the general practitioner is a key figure in the fight against obesity. The preventive check-up is the first and most important step towards early diagnosis and successful treatment, based on the trust between patient and physician.