Childhood obesity is becoming a serious concern in North Macedonia.
According to data from the Institute of Public Health (IPH), 30.4% of children aged 6-9 years are overweight, while 3.8% are obese. Additionally, 4.4% of children suffer from extreme obesity.
The IPH states that the rise in childhood obesity is primarily due to the high consumption of processed foods, packaged beverages, and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.
Dr. Igor Spirovski from the Institute of Public Health is calling for urgent intervention by state institutions, including higher taxes on unhealthy foods and a ban on their advertising.
“The advertising of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat should be treated the same way as cigarette and alcohol advertisements. The laws applied to these products should also cover unhealthy foods. A systematic approach and dialogue among all stakeholders are needed to start addressing this issue,” said Igor Spirovski, a doctor at the IPH.
Dr. Spirovski, a specialist in hygiene and health ecology, also proposes reducing the prices of healthy foods as an additional incentive for people to adopt a healthier diet.
“We are a country that produces and even exports large quantities of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy products. A consumer basket could be created, or prices of these products could be lowered, so we don’t reach a situation where a kilogram of fruits or vegetables is more expensive than food loaded with sugar, salt, and fat,” added Igor Spirovski.
The IPH emphasizes that obesity is not just an individual issue but a societal problem that requires institutional commitment.
“Doctors also insist that obesity should not be treated only as a poor eating habit but as a disease, given its potential to cause serious health conditions later in life. This must be integrated into the healthcare system,” said journalist Ferikan Iljazi Arifi.