A government program to combat obesity is needed. Fatphobia in doctors' offices is also a problem

- Obesity is the fifth most common risk factor for death, after hypertension, smoking, air pollution and diabetes. According to the National Health Service, 3 in 5 adult Poles are already overweight, and one in four is obese. In six years, 30 percent of people will be obese," recalled subcommittee chairman Marek Hok.

Meanwhile, obesity is already considered a chronic disease, dangerous especially since it causes up to about 200 complications.

- The problem affects every social group. It is a nationwide and worldwide challenge. A period of pandemonium and associated insufficient physical activity, as well as a diet that has been changing for years, are important factors exacerbating this phenomenon," admitted Deputy Health Minister Maciej Miłkowski.

As the deputy minister recalled, the National Health Program implemented by the ministry targets the prevention of overweight and obesity. In 2017, the National Center for Nutrition Education was established to prepare training and educational materials. An Online Diet Center was also established. In turn, in 2020, the Law on the Promotion of Health-Promoting Consumer Choices was passed. According to it, part of the sugar fee is transferred to the National Health Fund.

- We are working on further tasks, such as comprehensive specialized care for overweight patients who are over 30 BMI. Legislation is being prepared to digitize children's balance examinations, so that we will gain up-to-date knowledge of how the situation is changing in different years of children in different regions," Maciej Miłkowski mentioned.

As assured by Lawrence Roch Kowalski, director of the Department of Education and Inclusive Education at the Ministry of Education and Science, the educational system takes a comprehensive approach to health education.

- We guarantee to equip children with health competencies that meet social needs and expectations. These issues are addressed at all educational stages," indicated Lawrence Roch Kowalski.

The Ministry of Sports and Tourism is also taking initiatives to create favorable conditions for physical activity, assured Marcin Brzychca, head of the Department for the Dissemination of Children and Youth Sports at the Ministry of Sports and Tourism.

- Our offer is available regardless of gender, fitness level, place of residence or social status. We give priority to tasks aimed at children and schoolchildren. Our activities can only be preventive in nature. They are primarily activation activities. It is important to base all activities on a stable financial foundation. The budget for these purposes this year is almost PLN 600 million. For comparison, in 2015 it was PLN 117 million," Marcin Brzychca mentioned.

According to MP Rajmund Miller, the actions taken by the ministries are not very effective, and the initiatives reach a small percentage of those concerned. According to him, the issue should not be taken up by each ministry concerned separately.

- The government should decide to create a national program to combat obesity. This is a very serious disease that implies the development of many other diseases. It is a huge cost to our society and to the state budget. The first such comprehensive program was established in Spain. I recommend implementing a similar one, not at the ministerial level, but at the government level. If we do not decide today to devote more resources and focus on prevention of this serious disease, we will have a huge problem, both health and financial," Rajmund Miller warned.

Also important in the context of the fight against obesity, according to MP Marcelina Zawisza, is the phenomenon of fatphobia, also observed when overweight and obese people use the health care system.

- The activists collected information on what kind of treatment fat people receive and how this affects their subsequent problems with continuing treatment. The resulting report found that out of 1,194 completed surveys, 1,038 indicated that the experience of fatphobia at the doctor's office changed the way people used the system's services. 49 percent began to avoid certain tests, appointments and doctors. Twenty-five percent significantly reduced their use of medical services, and 13 percent abandoned continuing treatment altogether, Marcelina Zawisza pointed out.

According to the MP, there should be standards for handling overweight and obese people in the health care system.