Rationale
Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries of the WHO European Region since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected continue to rise at an alarming rate. In addition to causing various physical disabilities and psychological problems, excess weight drastically increases a person’s risk of developing a number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
Overweight and obesity are important public health problems in the European Region. (WHO, 2018) Globally, 38,3 million children are overweight (with an increase of 8 million more overweight children in 2017 than in 2000) and in Europe today 1 child out of 3 is obese (Unicef). “COVID-19 could potentially amplify one of the most worrying trends in the WHO European Region – growing childhood obesity,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. Weight excess is one of the major risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, orthopedic problems, cancer etc in adulthood. Moreover, overweight and obesity have also important psychological implications, as a matter of fact, they could alter body perception and reduce self–esteem with repercussions on social life.
The prevalence of overweight shows a negative gradient based on social position across Europe. Overall, children belonging to a lower socioeconomic status show the highest prevalence of obesity. In 2013, during the “Vienna Declaration on Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020, among the objectives to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce non-communicable diseases was the role of the implementation of effective programmes to promote healthy diets, encourage physical activity and to prevent childhood obesity.
Information about healthy eating habits should be provided even before birth to promote healthier nutrition education in the family and in the wider school environment. There is a series of studies that focus explicitly on the association between social exclusion and obesity.
Mission & Vision
It is the Stealth Project's mission to raise awareness of the importance of healthy nutrition using the STEM approach and combat social exclusion associated with obesity.
“WHEN DIET IS WRONG, MEDICINE IS OF NO USE. WHEN DIET IS CORRECT, MEDICINE IS OF NO NEED.” – AYURVEDIC PROVERB
