Swiss are thinnest people in Europe
The Swiss are in better physical shape than any of their European counterparts, according to new figures, which show that fewer than one in 10 Swiss is considered obese.
Figures from the Federal Health Office show that 28 per cent of the population is overweight, and that 6.8 per cent of those are obese. Within Switzerland, French-speakers are least likely to be overweight.
The figures mean that the Swiss are thinner than any of their European counterparts, while Greece tops the scales with the largest number of obese inhabitants.
Health experts warn, though, that the Swiss cannot afford to be complacent. “We have to continue informing youngsters about good nutrition”, says Franziska Uhlmann of the Swiss Association for Nutrition. “If we don’t, we will catch up with other European nations.”
The reasons for keeping a wary eye on children’s eating habits are numerous, according to Uhlmann: a changing society, split families, working parents, less time to eat, TV meals and the success of fast food outlets.
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