[REVISION HISTORY]

Greece childhood obesity prevention initiatives

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-07 18:05 UTC → 2026-10-15 09:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Greece has ~~initiated~~ implemented several measures to address high childhood obesity rates through digital tools and updated school food regulations. In late August, Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidakis introduced the ‘Healthy Kids’ ~~app, a digital platform designed~~ app to provide families with nutritional guidance. ~~The tool allows parents to monitor physical activity and dietary habits, such as water intake and the consumption of sugary drinks, as a preventative measure. Following this,~~ This was followed by new ministerial regulations ~~were established~~ for school ~~canteens to implement stricter nutritional guidelines. Developed in collaboration~~ canteens, developed with the National Nutrition Committee and the Panhellenic Federation of Canteens of Public and Private Schools (POKDIS), ~~these rules~~ which set ~~specific~~ strict weight limits and nutritional requirements for various food items to control caloric intake in educational settings. In September, an amendment to a Ministerial Decision further refined these regulations regarding specific products and portion sizes. Under the updated rules, whole grain options for items like sesame or multi-grain rings are capped at 80 grams. Popcorn is now restricted to secondary education canteens, with portions limited to 40 grams and strict prohibitions on added sugars and specific fat and sodium levels. Other updates include prioritizing whole grain varieties for bread, pita, and tortillas (max 80 grams) and limiting high-calorie savory pastries, such as cheese or vegetable pies, to 100 grams. Additionally, while roasted or boiled chicken and turkey are permitted for sandwiches, the use of processed deli meats is prohibited. items. In October 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) commended Greece for its ~~leadership in combating childhood and adolescent obesity.~~ leadership. Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO Director of Health Promotion, noted that Greece is one of the few countries effectively implementing ‘practical, proven strategies’ rather than just adopting guidelines. The national strategy, implemented alongside UNICEF, aims to reduce childhood overweight and obesity rates from 37.5% in 2019 to 24.5% by 2030. However, the policy has faced parliamentary scrutiny. MP Meropi Tzoufi submitted an inquiry to the Ministers of Health and Education regarding the effectiveness of these measures and the transparency of fund distribution. While the budget for the National Action plan increased from €44.73 million to €50.83 million via the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the inquiry noted that the target to reach a 24.5% obesity rate has been delayed from 2025 to 2030. Additionally, concerns were raised that new canteen regulations might threaten the viability of small business operators and that the introduction of vending machines could allow larger corporations to replace local services.

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