Greece is being recognized as one of Europe’s leading countries in the fight against childhood obesity after presenting major results from a nationwide health programme developed together with UNICEF.
Officials, health experts, and international partners gathered at the closing event of the National Action Against Childhood Obesity, where the government presented measurable improvements in children’s health, nutrition, physical activity, and public awareness across the country.
The programme was launched by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with UNICEF as part of the “Greece 2.0” National Recovery Plan, with funding from the European Union.
According to officials, the initiative achieved more than short-term health improvements. It also helped change how Greek families think about nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyles.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has now described Greece as an “example country” and recognized its growing leadership role in discussions about childhood obesity and public health policy in Southern Europe.
Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki said Greece had moved “from denial to action” after years of struggling with some of the highest childhood obesity rates in Europe.
“For years, our country faced a reality that did not honor any of us,” Agapidaki said. “We decided not to stay inactive. Together with UNICEF, we created a strategy that left government offices, entered schools, and changed mindsets.”
She added that more than 75% of parents had either received information from the programme or directly participated in its activities.
Thousands of children received nutrition support
One of the programme’s largest initiatives focused on personalized nutritional counseling for overweight and obese children.
More than 1,900 children received free support through over 13,000 individual sessions with 60 dietitians and nutrition specialists.
According to the data presented:
- 8 out of 10 participating children lost weight and reached a healthier body mass index
- 4 out of 10 obese children with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol improved their health indicators and reduced medication use
At the same time, 1,124 pediatricians and healthcare professionals were trained, and a new digital referral platform was introduced to support prevention and treatment efforts.
Preventive monitoring also increased. The percentage of children whose height and weight were regularly recorded during pediatric visits rose from 69% to 72.5%.
Schools became central to the programme
Schools played a major role in the national campaign.
Through the “Food for Action” initiative, healthy nutrition and physical activity programmes were introduced nationwide. More than 7,600 teachers and parents registered for digital educational toolkits and seminars.
Thirty-one schools operated as “Health Hubs,” involving nearly 3,500 children and almost 1,400 parents. In addition, 694 physical education teachers were trained to use sports as a tool for promoting healthier lifestyles.
The programme also focused on inclusion. Educational materials adapted for children with disabilities and special educational needs were created to ensure equal participation.
Healthy eating initiatives reached hundreds of schools across the country. More than 130,000 healthy meals and fresh fruit portions were distributed to students in 435 elementary schools.
Teenagers also participated through a project called “The Food Journey.” Nearly 100,000 students joined around 4,900 workshops in more than 1,600 schools. During visits to farmers’ markets in 23 municipalities, students collected and redistributed over 20 tons of surplus food to vulnerable families.
More children became physically active
Physical activity was another major focus of the campaign.
More than 135,000 children participated in free sports programmes organized under the initiative.
Officials reported that participation in organized sports increased from 52.5% to 60%, while the percentage of children staying physically active for at least one hour daily rose from 49.9% to 52.8%.
Large public events promoting exercise and healthy nutrition were held in more than 40 municipalities and 13 regions across Greece, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Alexandroupoli, and Grevena. More than 18,000 students attended the events.
Eating habits and awareness improved
Health officials also reported positive changes in eating habits among families.
Frequent fruit consumption increased by three percentage points, while vegetable consumption rose by five points.
Meanwhile:
- regular consumption of pastries fell from 20.7% to 17.9%
- sweets and chocolate consumption dropped from 17% to 15.1%
For the first time, Greece also introduced national nutrition and physical activity recommendations for every age group, including infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
Public awareness improved significantly during the programme:
- awareness of WHO healthy eating recommendations rose from 29.4% to 43.7%
- awareness of physical activity recommendations increased from 28.4% to 42.5%
Officials said 73.5% of parents had some involvement with services or activities connected to the national programme.
Long-term reforms and digital tools introduced
The Ministry of Health announced that the programme’s tools and reforms will continue beyond the initial project period.
A package of 19 legislative proposals has been prepared in the areas of health, education, and social protection to support long-term prevention of childhood obesity.
Digital tools developed during the initiative, including the new “Healthy Kids” application, are now permanently integrated into the country’s health infrastructure.
At the regional level, 13 local action groups were also created to strengthen cooperation between universities, municipalities, schools, and community organizations.
Experts believe that if the current prevention and monitoring systems continue, childhood obesity rates in Greece could steadily decline through 2040.
“Today marks the end of one cycle, but not the end of the journey,” Agapidaki said. “The foundations are now strong. When we invest in the health of children, we invest in the future of the country.”
Athens hosted global conference on childhood obesity
Building on the programme’s success, Greece also hosted an international conference focused on childhood obesity and public health cooperation.
The event brought together political leaders, scientists, civil society groups, private sector representatives, youth leaders, and media organizations to create new partnerships and discuss global strategies for tackling childhood obesity.
Organizers said the conference combined political discussions, academic workshops, youth participation, and presentations of successful programmes from around the world.
The conference was organized under the National Action Plan Against Childhood Obesity, implemented by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF with support from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU recovery programme.
Photo: Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki
01.06.2026.
