The EEC has signed Memorandum of Cooperation with Novo Nordisk Hellas to inform and raise awareness of the world on this issue Prevention of obesity in children and adolescents.

The EEC Notice

“The Hellenic Basketball Federation, which aims to help inform and raise awareness among the general population about the importance of preventing childhood and adolescent obesity through a healthy lifestyle, signed a cooperation agreement with Novo Nordisk Hellas.

Through the memorandum symbolically signed on World Obesity Day, the two parties jointly recognize that, within the framework of their institutional and operational role, they can use their experience and skills to take initiatives and implement actions for the benefit of society in the context of implementation an awareness campaign of the general population on the disease of obesity, with a focus on the prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity, which plagues our country.

In particular, they agree to establish a framework for cooperation between them in order to contribute through their joint actions to:

• the development and implementation of information and awareness-raising campaigns for the prevention of obesity in children and adolescents
• in implementing actions aimed at educating young people and their carers about the benefits of sport, the value of raising awareness of the benefits of exercise through positive experiences, their familiarity with basketball, and the benefits of sport for their physical and mental health to inform .

The collaboration of the two parties is expected to yield valuable synergies and multiplier effects in the critical work of raising awareness of obesity among the general population, contributing to public health and improving the quality of life of young people.

About World Obesity Day

In 2015, the World Obesity Federation (WOF) declared October 11 as World Obesity Day, while in 2020, for the first time, March 4 was celebrated as the first common World Obesity Day, as previous years had different days of celebration on the around the world, by many obesity associations.⁹

Latest epidemiological data

Epidemiological data show the true extent of the disease called obesity and whether it affects not only the world population but also Greece^1.3.

According to the World Health Organization in 2016, obesity affects more than 650 million adults worldwide, and the number is steadily increasing, as is the severity of the cases. According to this, 39% of adults worldwide are overweight, while 13% are obese.^{2, 3, 4}

At the European level, the available data indicate that the prevalence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate across the continent, affecting around 10-30% of adults.^5.6

In Greece, according to a recent epidemiological study, obesity affects 32.1% of the country’s population, ie about 3 million people.⁷

One issue that should concern the general public as obesity rates increase around the world is the sharp increase in childhood and adolescent obesity rates. According to World Health Organization data from 2016, more than 124 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 suffer from obesity, while about 8 in 10 children and adolescents living with obesity will become obese in adulthood. This will affect future generations as obesity in childhood and adolescence is associated with numerous comorbidities in adulthood.

About Novo
Nordic in Greece

In 1979, Novo Nordisk was first incorporated under the distinctive name “Novo Hellas Pharmaceutical Ltd.” active in Greece and imported products for diabetes. Since then, to this day, it has held a leading position in the Greek pharmaceutical market, constantly expanding its portfolio and investing in the prevention and early detection of diabetes, in the treatment of obesity, hemophilia, developmental disorders and rare diseases. The company is called Novo Nordisk Hellas Ltd. since 1991. In addition to the constantly growing product portfolio, the company has been active in the field of clinical studies in Greece in recent years and has mainly carried out clinical programs on behalf of the parent company. For more information visit: www.novonordisk.GR

About Novo Nordic

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company founded in 1923 and based in Denmark. Our goal is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, hemophilia and developmental disabilities. We fulfill our commitment through our breakthrough scientific discoveries, expanding access to our medicines, and our efforts to prevent and ultimately cure chronic diseases. Novo Nordisk employs around 47,800 people in 80 countries and has offices in more than 170 countries. For more information visit: novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, youtube.

About the Hellenic Basketball Federation

H Hellenic Basketball Federation (Hellenic Basketball Federation) is the highest administrative organization for basketball in Greece. Under his supervision are the national teams of men and women of different ages, the amateur championships, the Greek Cup, as well as the development program”.