Greece is facing one of Europe’s highest child obesity rates, with recent data showing that 30% to 42% of children in the country are overweight or obese, while 15% to 20% are classified as obese.
The figures place Greece second in Europe for childhood obesity and third for overweight prevalence, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization.
Greece confronts growing child obesity challenge
Obesity and excess weight remain widespread among children in Greece. At younger ages, rates are similar among boys and girls, but they decline among girls as they grow older.
Experts also warn that awareness remains a major obstacle. About 18% of parents or caregivers underestimate their child’s weight status, a gap that can delay early intervention and make prevention more difficult.
Europe faces major child obesity challenge
Across Europe, the latest World Health Organization data show that one in four children aged 7 to 9 is overweight or obese.
The figure highlights the scale of the problem beyond Greece, showing that childhood obesity is not limited to countries with the highest rates. However, Greece’s position near the top of the European ranking makes the issue especially urgent for national health authorities, schools, and families.
Habits linked to childhood obesity
Experts associate the high rates with several lifestyle habits, including high consumption of sugary drinks and juices, low water intake, skipping breakfast, frequent consumption of unhealthy snacks, low levels of physical activity, and increased screen time.
These factors point to a broader public health challenge. Prevention depends not only on family choices but also on school environments, community support, and access to reliable health guidance.
Greece launches free treatment program
At the same time, Greece has launched a new program offering free treatment to people with severe obesity. The initiative follows a joint ministerial decision by the ministries of health, finance, and digital governance.
The program is funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility and forms part of a broader effort to strengthen preventive care. A second program targeting early detection of kidney dysfunction is also being introduced, expanding Greece’s prevention-focused health strategy.
Who is eligible for free obesity treatment?
A key requirement for participation is completion of the national cardiovascular risk blood test, which is offered free of charge through the Prevent program. Those who have not yet completed the screening may do so until the end of December. Once the test is completed, the digital system automatically issues a referral for a clinical obesity assessment.
The obesity treatment program provides free anti-obesity medication for adults with a body mass index of 40 or higher. It also covers adults with a BMI between 37 and 40 who have at least one comorbidity.
Qualifying conditions include type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, stroke, fatty liver disease, and other obesity-related disorders.
How the program works
Doctors record whether a patient is eligible for treatment. When treatment is approved, they select the appropriate medication from an evidence-ranked list of approved active substances. Nutritional counseling is also included in the care pathway.
Doctors issue approved prescriptions electronically, and patients can fill them at cooperating pharmacies within fifteen days at no cost. After each prescription, the system generates a new referral for re-evaluation within 45 days. Patients can repeat this cycle up to eight times, covering eight medical visits and eight prescriptions.
The program provides all services, tests, and medications free of charge. It also records each step in the patient’s national electronic health record, which is required for reimbursement and continuity of care.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
