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Preventia

SAFE, LCI, EEKE, CEIP, and partners to launch health literacy training, peer-learning, migrant health initiatives, and the BiteWatch app in 2025

Newsletter #3

Foreword

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are diseases that are not transmissible from one person to another, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. NCDs are the result of unhealthy lifestyles, e.g. tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and use of alcohol, leading to metabolic and physiological changes. In European countries, NCDs are responsible for an enormous part of the burden that public health systems in the Member States are facing. The increasing rates of deaths related to NCDs in Europe are concerning, but although running rampant, the complex health issues caused by NCDs can be tackled, if we improve prevention measures and promote health.
Healthy diets are a key aspect of our lifestyle, and can help tackling the rise of NCDs. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is essential for our overall health, and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses.
The Preventia project aims to decrease the spreading of NCDs across the EU, while reducing health inequalities and fostering cooperation and exchanges between the EU Member States.

What's new

Activities to be launched in 2025 by SAFE, LCI, EEKE, CEIP, Promote Ukraine, Amici Obesi, U.DI.CON
In 2024, Preventia’s project partners focused on the preparation of several project activities that will be implemented next year.
In 2025, we will enhance health literacy by organising training in schools located in socio-economically disadvantages areas, while a twinning programme will be carried out to promote peer-learning among doctors from different EU Member States.
In addition, workshops with NGOs active in the field of NCDs and Ukrainian healthcare professionals will be organised, while an initiative for migrants will be carried out across migration centres in Europe with the aim of tackling health inequalities.
Lastly, we will launch BiteWatch, a smartphone app aimed at helping consumers make more informed and healthier choices when purchasing food products.
All our activities aim at raising awareness about the importance of healthy diets as a key tool to prevent non-communicable diseases. Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming project activities! .

Science says so

This article gathers new papers linking UPF with accelerated biological aging next to increased colorectal cancer and non-communicable diseases

​Biomedical and lifestyle factors in Western populations have significantly shifted in recent decades, influencing public health and contributing to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that share inflammation as common pathology

This study aims to investigate the prospective association between baseline adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the onset of cardiometabolic multimorbidity across various follow-up durations

The latest on nutrition and health

The latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) highlights the importance of aligning trade policies with nutrition goals to improve global diet quality. It also aims to address trade-driven dietary changes that lead to obesity and malnutrition. Titled “Trade and Nutrition: Policy Coherence for Healthy Diets,” the report notes significant global trade growth in food and agricultural products, which has enhanced the diversity, availability, and affordability of food and nutrients.

​Health officials and nutritionists have welcomed the UK government’s crackdown on junk food advertising following a new law set out, which details more robust guidelines set to be enforced from October 2025. The measures are aimed at reducing childhood obesity rates. It lays out how ads on television will only be allowed past the 9 pm watershed from October 2025. The restrictions also include a ban on paid online junk food adverts to reduce children’s excessive exposure to many foods high in fat, sugar, or salt.

 On World Diabetes Day, it was highlighted the importance of a maintaining a healthy lifestyle—particularly good nutrition—in managing diabetes, improving glycemic control, and reducing complications. Simple dietary changes, alongside tools like low/no calorie sweeteners, can help people living with diabetes enjoy a varied diet and enhance their quality of life.

A study published in the journal Science found that reducing sugar in the first 1,000 days after conception – through gestation up to age 2 – may cut a child’s risk of chronic illnesses in adulthood. The researchers found that reducing sugar consumption in this window decreased the type 2 diabetes risk by about 35% and the risk of high blood pressure by roughly 20%. They also found a delay in disease onset of four and two years, respectively.

The WHO's updated guidelines recommend limiting total fat intake to 30% of daily calories, focusing on unsaturated fats, and reducing saturated and trans fats to under 10% and 1%, respectively. Carbohydrates should make up 40-70% of calories, primarily from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These measures aim to reduce risks of obesity and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Healthy diets support overall well-being, growth, and active lifestyles while preventing nutrient imbalances and diseases. Although diets vary based on personal and cultural factors, the core principles of healthy eating remain consistent. The FAO and WHO have outlined these principles to guide policy-making and assess diet quality.

What is EU doing?

The European Commission has launched in December 2021 the Healthier together – EU non-communicable diseases (NCD) initiative that will cover the 2022-2027 period to support EU countries in identifying and implementing effective policies and actions to reduce the burden of major NCDs and improve citizens’ health and well-being.

As Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi’s task is to complete the European Health Union. He will do this by diversifying supply chains, improving access to the most advanced treatments, boosting the competitiveness, resilience and security of health systems and working on strategic inventories.

Let's debate about health

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Preventia (“NCDs prevention and health promotion through training, networking and awareness-raising across the EU”)  has received funding from the European Union’s EU4Health programme implemented by HaDEA under Grant Agreement No 101128898.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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