The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a decree requiring schools to provide children with five healthy meals per week, ensuring adequate daily intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fish. The decree also bans the sale of energy and sugary drinks, processed pastries, precooked and fried foods. This new initiative follows new research showing that nearly half of Spanish students aged from 6 to 9 years from low-income families are overweight.
In a similar effort, the Italian Chamber of Deputies has passed a bill formally recognising obesity as a medical condition that requires appropriate medical treatment. The legislation seeks to guarantee access to obesity-related healthcare services across the country through the Essential Levels of Care (LEA). The bill must still be approved by the Italian Senate before becoming law.
