While highlighting the importance of a balanced diet to address childhood obesity, the health ministry on Tuesday called for a stop to body shaming, underlining how acceptance of diversity in society is of paramount importance.

The comments came from Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas on the occasion Pancyprian Nutrition Day, implemented to promote healthy eating, especially among children. This year’s theme is addressing bullying of the obese.

“Childhood obesity is most pressing public health issue in Cyprus and today we want to stress the importance of a balanced diet, which is an important tool to safeguard children’s mental and physical health,” he said in a statement.

At the same time, Hadjipantelas said bullying on the basis of body image should be always avoided.

The health ministry has recently introduced a programme in schools around the island to monitor children’s physical conditions.

It also launched an interactive educational tool, called “Be a Health Ambassador” in primary school consisting of a serious of lectures, cooking classes and online video games aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Children in Cyprus are among the most at risk of obesity in the European Union, according to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report.

According to the report, Cyprus ranks seventh in the bloc as far as prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years is concerned and eighth among children aged five to nine years.

Moreover, over 40 per cent of all Cypriot children aged seven to nine years are overweight and over 20 per cent of boys are obese, with the figure decreasing to just under 20 per cent among girls.