Action plan for the reduction of prevalence of childhood obesity in the area of Thessaloniki’s Health Center

Obesity, that is the excessive fat accumulation in the human body, is not accidentally characterized as the disease of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), its rates have tripled worldwide since 1975, with the main causes referring to behavioral factors related to unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Its development is favored by a pre-existing genetic backround, as well as by factors related to intrauterine life. Its consequences in health are multileveled and they concern physical, mental and social robustness and health. Obesity in Greece, specifically childhood obesity, is increasing with its rate reaching 37,5% in 2019, ranking it first in Europe. Its growth trend during the last decades, with the recent pandemic as a strengthening factor, makes mandatory the need to confront it . Measures’ inclusion against childhood obesity in the National Prevention Program “Spyros Doxiadis”, proves the great importance the state gives to the disease’s prevention and treatment during childhood. Primary Health Care (PHC) is charged with the duty of developing acts and actions in this direction, something that is after all provided by the law 4486/2017 (“Primary Health Care reformation”). This paper deals with PHC’s role documentation in dealing with childhood obesity in general and with a case study for a five step relevant decision making process for Thessaloniki’s Health Center, in particular. Within this context, the appropriate stakeholders’ role is being studied. For the depiction of the actions’ programming that result from the relevant decisions, is used a Gantt chart.

Keywords: Primary Health Care, prevention, childhood obesity, stakeholders, decision making, Gantt