According to a recent study, obese patients were 113% more likely to be hospitalized with Covid, and 74% more likely to be referred to the intensive care unit.Continue reading
Hungary still leads among European countries in the number of cancer cases and related deaths, while according to the latest published national report, cancer deaths decreased by 11 percent in men and 6 percent in women between 2011 and 2019, said a press conference held on the occasion of the National Cancer Day in Budapest on Wednesday.
Balázs Rozványi, President of the Hungarian Cancer League, reminded that the European Cancer Inequalities Registry aims to provide reliable data on cancer, examining disparities and trends. The Hungarian country profile, published in February, shows that between 2011 and 2019, cancer deaths fell by 11% for men and 6% for women, while the EU27 average is 10% for men and 5% for women.
Krisztina Bogos, director general of the National Institute of Pulmonology, said lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in Hungary for both men and women, but “not as blatant as international studies show”. She pointed out that lung cancer in women “deserves the same attention” as breast and gynaecological tumours, because of the poor trend in lung cancer in women.
She stressed the importance of prevention, adding that screening those at risk could do much to improve mortality rates. Krisztina Bogos said:
Innovative therapies are available in Hungary and have doubled the three to five-year survival rate.
Eszter Halmy, Executive President of the Hungarian Obesity Society, said that data from 2020-2022 showed that during the period of the coronavirus epidemic, more people in Hungary became obese or overweight, especially in the young adult age group. The surge is most pronounced among 15-25 year olds, she added.
Photo: Pixabay
Lifestyles have changed significantly under Covid, according to the so-called World Obesity Atlas. Out of 173 countries, Hungary is 24th for men and 91st for women, ranking 3rd for men and 8th for women in Europe. According to the expert, this data is alarming, as obesity and overweight are the cause of many chronic diseases, and there is growing evidence that obesity also plays a role in the development of cancer.
Orsolya Surján, Deputy National Medical Officer, stressed that
it is futile to have forward-looking government measures for health-conscious lifestyles and health promotion if individuals do not take responsibility for their own health.
Among the measures taken in Hungary, she mentioned the introduction of a public health product tax (chip tax), the school canteen and the restructuring of the food offer in public catering. However, she noted that these measures “alone” are not enough, and that the family, parents and the public need to be involved and provided with credible information.
Via MTI. Featured Photo: Pixabay