Mar 05, 2026
3 min read
This initiative and research from the University of Zaragoza agree that obesity is a chronic disease that develops in both adults and children, and whose habits begin to form between the ages of 3 and 6.
The weight of the invisible, Aragon takes a stand against obesity
This initiative and research from the University of Zaragoza agree that obesity is a chronic disease that is increasing in adults and children and that habits begin to form between the ages of 3 and 6.
Zaragoza and Science Today (03/04/26)
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As part of World Obesity Day, Aragón focuses on a double reality: the increasing number of cases in the adult population and the alarming increase in childhood obesity.On the occasion of the anniversary, Miguel Serveta Hospital presented the "Invisible Traction" campaign, an initiative of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO), the Association of People with Obesity and the LIGI Laboratories, which aims to make visible a chronic disease whose high prevalence has made it a normalized problem in many cases.
The endocrinologist Alejandro Sange, spokesman for the campaign, has assured that obesity has been a devalued disease: "We have two extremes: those who ignore it and those who reject it, which causes anxiety. The first is to normalize the situation. We must not hide or resign ourselves."
Sanz explains that there are two main patterns of fat storage:
- Abdominal or visceral obesity, which is associated with the risk of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and heart disease.
- Gynoid obesity, more common in women, located in the hips and legs.It is not related to mortality as well as morbidity: osteoarthritis, low back pain or movement problems.
The numbers are growing and the problems are starting earlier and earlier
According to the latest published data, 15% of the adult population in Spain suffer from obesity and 43% are overweight.However, concerns also concern the youngest: childhood obesity has increased from 8% to 20% in the last decades.Sanz mentioned that the main reason for the severe restriction of physical exercise: "Children don't play football anymore, they play with cellphones. They even use the car for training.
Added to this are the economic factors. "Fresh vegetables and fruits are not cheap, and this forces many families to choose cheaper but less healthy foods. It's a direct correlation: lower purchasing power, higher prevalence of obesity."
Regarding the rise of medications like Ozempic, Sanj acknowledges their effectiveness but rejects their use without control: "They cause 10-15% damage, but they are not miraculous. Another leg of the treatment. Without a change in habits, they are useless. Obesity is lifelong and drugs cannot be taken forever."
He insists that the key is the balance between diet, exercise and nutritional training: "Sablo has four legs: healthy diet, exercise, medical support and persistence. If one fails, it falls."
Science confirms folk wisdom.what you learn as a child lasts a lifetime
At the same time as the health initiative, the University of Zaragoza and the IIS Aragón group presented the results of a study conducted by the GENUD group on the impact of eating behavior between the ages of 3 and 6 years on the nutrition of adults.
Researcher Ivy Manisky explains that those early years are very important: "What we do in the pre-school age has a huge impact on the lives of adults. It's not just what we eat, but how we eat: the relationship with food, harmony at the table, the example of the family...".
A study conducted in seven Spanish cities shows.
- Selective children or "bad eaters" consume more highly processed foods.
- Those who like to eat eat fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains.
- There are differences between the sexes: girls have a more emotional component in their eating behavior.
Maneschy says that changing behavior at age six is "more difficult, but not impossible."And do not forget that the example of the family is very clear: "If fish is not eaten at home, the child will not learn to eat it."
Despite the increased consumption of processed food and predictions by some entrepreneurs that domestic kitchens will disappear, the researcher is optimistic: "There is a lot of information available and more families. I don't think that kitchens will disappear. On the contrary: we are learning more and more."
Both initiatives – the Servette campaign and the university study – share a common message: obesity is a public health problem that requires prevention, education and lifestyle changes starting in childhood.
