Fighting obesity in children from European World Health Organization member states. Epidemiological data, medical-social aspects, and prevention programs.

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health chal-lenges of this century. Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. In the WHO European Region one child out of 3, is overweight or obese.

Overweight among seafarers working on board merchant ships.

Background: Obesity and overweight represent a relevant risk factor for seafarer's health. The frequency and distribution of overweight and obesity among seafarers working on board of Italian flag ships were studied. Analysis was made on occupational medicine files collected, in the frame of health surveillance inspections, between 2013 and 2016 from Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (CIRM).

Obesity in the European region: social aspects, epidemiology and preventive strategies.

Obesity related to metabolic syndrome is gaining an increasing importance as the main risk factor for diseases and disability in the European region. We herein review the increasing trend of obesity and overweight in males and females from Europe, preventive programs addressed to children, youngsters, adult population and subjects with particular diseases which can profit from healthy nutrition. The main feature is that some European countries have implemented programs on World Health Organization (WHO) proposals, while some others have focused attention only on some aspects.

Evaluation of medical prescriptions and off-label use on board ships to improve healthcare quality.

Objective: This study analyzed the appropriateness of drug therapies prescribed for a particular category of patients: the seafarers. We investigated an important problem of this area: the off-label use of drugs, which resulted to be a consequence of major shortcomings in the on-board pharmacies of ships. The off-label use of drugs is allowed, but can lead to some not negligible ethical and health problems, compromising the quality of provided healthcare.