The results of a survey on eating habits, physical exercise and the time Greek children spend in front of screens are worrying.

One in four children skip breakfast every day, while daily fruit and vegetable consumption declines dramatically with age. Only 20.3% of parents consider their child to be overweight, while two out of three parents assess their children’s weight as normal.

The above are some of the results of a Public Opinion Survey conducted among parents of children up to 17 years of age, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF and presented today at a special event by Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidakis.

The survey was conducted nationwide, as part of the National Action Against Childhood Obesity by MARC and its findings were analyzed by the president and CEO of the company, Thomas Gerakis.

Some of the findings are extremely worrying regarding the eating habits and physical activity of children in Greece. The physical exercise of the majority of children and adolescents in our country is not sufficient, taking into account the recommendations of the WHO for at least 60 minutes of moderate to high intensity exercise per day. Only 20.6% of teenagers (15-17 years old) and 34.1% of the total sample exercise daily for at least one hour. At the same time, it is observed that children spend an average of 2.4 hours a day on activities with screens outside of education, reaching up to 3 hours for teenagers.

For their part, parents express the need for healthier food options and less time in front of screens, while they believe that the State can contribute in this direction with targeted actions in schools, subsidized sports programs and information campaigns. Finally, only 28.4% of parents state that they are fully informed about the recommendations of the World Health Organization regarding children’s physical activity.

“We planned the National Action against Childhood Obesity very carefully and with absolute respect for children and their parents,” said Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidakis.

“For us, children should have every opportunity to eat healthy and exercise, and that’s why we’re taking this action. Parents, also, it is necessary to be properly informed about the issue of childhood obesity, to recognize its signs as well as its effects and the problems it causes that they may not even imagine,” he said.

He added that “having battled weight issues as a child, I fully understand the factors and environment that lead to obesity. I want us to change them, in coordination with parents, teachers, agencies and organizations. We can.”

Mrs. Agapidaki announced that in a few days individual actions will be announced to combat childhood obesity with friendly and effective tools. “Our children must grow up as healthy individuals who will live longer and with better quality, and this applies to all children, without discrimination,” he concluded.

UNICEF’s diplomatic representative in Greece, Dr. Ghassan Khalil, said:

“UNICEF’s interventions are always based on evidence and scientific data, globally, especially when implementing interventions on established behaviors, critical to the successful implementation of our programs. At the same time, listening to the voices of children, families and carers and including them in planning and decision-making processes remains a key priority for the partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health. We are here today to expand our partnership with a key ally in all our endeavours, the Media, and to ensure that you are empowered to inform and sensitize citizens in a timely manner so that health, rights and children’s needs to be at the center of the country’s agenda”.

The National Action to Combat Childhood Obesity is a comprehensive program aimed at preventing and combating childhood obesity through the promotion and adoption of healthy eating habits and physical exercise. It is the first program implemented throughout the territory, meeting the needs of children aged 0-17 years, providing valuable assistance to them and their families at all levels, such as, but not limited to, free access to nutritionists, monitoring by doctors, advice for teachers, free access to sports activities.

Citizens can be informed about the National Action at https://paxisarkiakaipaidi.gov.gr, and soon through a new app service, parents, children and teenagers will be able to take planned steps towards a healthier lifestyle.