24TH October: The Prolepsis Institute on the World Anti-Obesity Day
Obesity has evolved into a serious public health issue, an epidemic in both developed and underdeveloped countries. In 2014 more than 1,9 billion adults were overweight while 600 million of them were obese.
Obesity escalates even more in times of economic crisis. The reason is that people do not have access to food in fixed times and quantities, while food quality is reduced. The World Health Organization (WHO) characterizes obesity as a “blatantly visible problem – yet most neglected – public health problem”.
The Prolepsis Institute contributes in the fight against obesity and childhood obesity by implementing two major Programs and various actions on creating awareness and promoting healthy nutrition in Schools, Organizations and companies.
The Program “Eu Dia…Trofin”, designed by the Prolepsis Institute, responds to the development of context, the production and the wide dissemination of the National Dietary Guidelines. The National Dietary Guidelines are addressed to the general adult population, women during various important stages of their life (pregnancy, breast feeding, menopause) ,children and adolescents and the elderly. The main objective of the Guides is to contribute to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle based on contemporary scientific knowledge and making the best use of Greek traditional nutrition. The National Dietary Guidelines are accessible at the webpage: www.diatrofikoiodigoi.gr
The Food Aid & Promotion of Healthy Nutrition Program “DIATROFI” is being implemented for the fifth consecutive year in socioeconomically underprivileged areas of Greece. Since 2012 over 11 million meals have been offered to 75,000 students in about 450 schools around Greece.
The Program DIATROFI addresses the escalating problem of food insecurity. All students of the participating schools receive daily, a healthy meal, cooked specifically for their nutritional needs. Additionally, healthy eating habits and healthy lifestyle is promoted through educational material, activities and informative events aimed to reach students and their families. The Program DIATROFI is coordinated and implemented by the scientific team of the Prolepsis Institute in collaboration with scientific partners, mainly from the Medical School of the University of Athens and from other Universities of Greece and the U.S.A.. The Program is managed under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs it with main funding coming from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.