Epidemiological view on the phenomenon of obesity in Croatia

Abstract:

Obesity is recognized as a serious public health challenge at the global level, but also as one of the main determinants of disability and mortality in Croatia. Apart from being a chronic disease itself, obesity is also a risk factor for numerous other chronic diseases. In Croatia, overweight and obesity affect 65% of adults. Data from the European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative show that in Croatia every third child of school age lives with overweight or obesity, while the prevalence is temporarily decreasing in adolescents. It is alarming that a consistent increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been recorded in Croatia, which is why Croatia, similarly to every other country in the European region, is not on the right path to achieve the goal of halting the rise of obesity by 2025. Obesity represents an increasing health and economic burden for Croatia, which is why it is necessary to invest increased strategic efforts in the prevention of obesity, with a special focus on changing the obesogenic environment.

Key words:
epidemiology; obesity; overweight; prevalence; prevention; public health