The Ministry of Health confirms its commitment to combating obesity – Algerian Al-Hiwar newspaper

Today, Tuesday, at the Ministry’s headquarters, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Mohamed Talhi, supervised the ceremony to commemorate the World Anti-Obesity Day, organized this year under the slogan “Together, we can change the story of obesity,” on behalf of the Minister of Health, Professor Mohamed Siddiq Ait Messaoudane.

According to a statement by the Ministry, the event was attended by a number of international and national partners, including the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Algeria, Katrin Fromm Heuer, and the Program Director of the Joint United Nations Program to Combat AIDS in Algeria, Soraya Alam, along with the representative of the World Health Organization in Algeria, as well as experts and executives from the central administration.

In the speech addressed on this occasion, the Minister stressed that combating obesity is a collective responsibility that requires comprehensive mobilization and a coordinated response at the national and international levels, noting the contribution of United Nations bodies, various ministerial sectors, and civil society in supporting prevention efforts.

He stressed that obesity is no longer just an issue related to appearance or weight, but has become a chronic and complex disease that constitutes a major risk factor for developing a number of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer, in addition to its psychological and social effects that affect the quality of life.

The minister pointed out that changing lifestyles, including unhealthy eating habits and increased consumption of products rich in sugars, fats and salt, in addition to lack of physical activity, have contributed to the exacerbation of the spread of obesity.

In this context, he renewed the Ministry’s commitment to continuing combat efforts, by preparing and distributing the “National Obesity Management Guide” as a reference document directed to health professionals, in addition to preparing a supplementary guide with the support of UNICEF that focuses on prevention in the school environment, with the aim of establishing a culture of healthy nutrition and encouraging physical activity from an early age.

He also recalled that the government has strengthened the national strategy for promoting health through a multi-sectoral national plan to combat risk factors, in coordination with the sectors of trade, industry, agriculture and national education, as well as civil society, stressing at the conclusion of his speech that adopting an integrated approach and collective will will ensure a healthy and balanced future for future generations.