Switzerland is growing fatter

The Federal Office of Statistics' Swiss Health Surveys of 1992, 1997 and 2002 showed a significant increase in overweight and obesity. The same trend has also been found among children: today every fifth child is already overweight or even obese. And the numbers are rising.

Causes

People's lifestyles and social context often contribute to overweight. «Unhealthy» (junk) food is promoted aggressively. It is available everywhere, all the time and in unlimited quantities. People are encouraged to consume ever larger portions of high-energy food and sweetened beverages. At the same time, the omnipresence of motorised transport reduces people's need to be physically active. People use their cars or public transport even for short distances. This increases the imbalance between food intake and physical activity.

Consequences

Overweight and obesity have a dramatically negative impact on people's health. Chronic illnesses and mental disorders are more common. Increasing obesity among children increasingly causes type-II diabetes among adolescents and young adults. Direct treatment costs as well as the indirect cost of absenteeism due to illness place a heavy burden on society.