Childhood obesity is an increasingly concerning public health issue, as it not only affects the physical and emotional well-being of children, but also significantly raises the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions. According to official sources, the childhood obesity rate in Cantabria in 2022 was 8.2%. Tackling this problem from an early age is essential to ensure a healthy life and to reduce the burden these diseases place on the healthcare system in the future. Therefore, it is crucial to implement preventive measures that promote healthy lifestyle habits from childhood, involving families, schools, and public administrations.
The Health Department of Cantabria has launched a survey developed by the Cohorte Cantabria team, aimed at families with school-aged children, with the goal of understanding their dietary and lifestyle habits in order to design a strategy to combat childhood and adolescent obesity. This initiative, called "Cantabria in Shape", will last 24 months and is promoted by the Directorate General of Public Health (Public Health Observatory), IDIVAL (Cohorte Cantabria), and the Department of Education.
The anonymous survey targets parents of children aged 6 to 16 and covers topics such as nutrition, physical activity, and family history. It also aims to cross-reference data with Cohorte Cantabria to analyze the relationship between the habits of parents and their children. The project includes an analysis of the Cohorte Cantabria database to identify links between obesity and various diseases, and ultimately, a health promotion and prevention strategy will be developed based on the results obtained.
People interested in completing the survey can access it here.
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